ment, and calculated to give full play to the Christian affections. Never has this truth been more strikingly illustrated than in the present case. For many years, indeed for so long a period that its origin can hardly now be ascertained, -it had been the practice, in this and the adjacent Circuits, to apportion the expenses incurred by the maintenance of the ministry and work of God, among the members of the society, according to the supposed capabilities of the various societies in the Circuit. The amount to be contributed by each society varied, of course, with the number of members; but the Society-Steward was always required to present to the Quarterly Meeting a given sum, determined at the ratio of so much per member. It is obvious, at the first view of this system, that the contribution required of each member wears an aspect so similar and so strongly compulsory as scarcely to be practically distinguishable from an enforced taxa tion. A separate article would be required for the development of all the evil consequences of this system. We may mention two, which affect the present question-1. The support of the ministry becomes little better than a commercial transaction. It costs so much to maintain a given number of Ministers; and the required amount must be provided: and thus the case assumes the aspect of a specified amount of money, paid for a specified amount of service, and a bargain is tacitly struck between the two parties. 2. The ministry is felt to be a burden, necessary indeed on many accounts, but still a burden which the people must endure, and which, for that very reason, they will make as light as possible, by supporting no more Ministers than are absolutely indispensable. It is easy to see how contrary all this is to that spirit of willing consecration of property to God, and of affectionate attachment between Pastors and their flocks, which the New Testament enjoins. And appears also, in practice, that if the people where this system prevails can secure as large an amount of the pulpitservices of their Ministers as constitutes, in their view, a fair return for their contributions, they neglect to make any adequate provision for obtaining that systematic and unremitting pastoral care, without which the most efficient preaching must be comparatively powerless. At the Quarterly Meeting of this Circuit, held in September, 1845, these questions were seriously and deliberately discussed; and a resolution was unani mously adopted, pledging the Circuit to an abandonment of the " average or taxation system, and an immediate return to the primitive Wesleyan plan of weekly and quarterly contributions, according to the ability and disposition of each member of society. An Address, embodying this resolution, and explaining the whole case, was drawn up and signed by the Minis ters and Circuit-Stewards. A copy of this was placed in the hands of every member, and the Leaders and societies were met by the Ministers, for the purpose of full and satisfactory explanation. We are happy to say that these measures were attended with complete success. Not only was the income of the Circuit immediately and very largely increased, but new and most salutary principles were called into action, the effect of which has been most gratifying. The contributions in support of the ministry are presented religiously, as a thank-offering for the spiritual mercies of which that ministry is the vehicle, and thus become an acceptable sacrifice to God; and the ministry is regarded with entirely different feelings. Believing that an enlightened, spiritual, and efficient Pastorate is the best gift, next to the Holy Spirit, which God can confer upon the church, there is an anxious wish to obtain as large and efficient a supply as possible, and as God's work requires. This is proved by the fact that, at the March Quarterly Meeting of 1846, it was unanimously resolved to solicit the appointment of a third Minister by the ensuing Conference. This request was sanctioned by the District-Meeting, and granted by the Conference. On his arrival, a system of pastoral visitation for the Truro society was organized and carried into operation; so that, in the four months following, the whole town-society had been twice visited. In addition to this, two Bible-classes were formed, one among the children, and the other among the young persons, belonging to the congregation. By these means, not only were the bonds of Christian affection between the Pastors and their flock materially strengthened, but it soon became evident that a most beneficial spiritual influence was exerted among the families of our people. But, notwithstanding the success of the financial measures above detailed, and the spiritual improvement consequent there. on, we did not realize much of that kind of success which every true Evangelist most desires to witness; namely, the conversion of sinners to God. This painful subject occupied our most serious attention, and gave rise to much self examination, searching of heart, and hymiliation before God. A few weeks before Christmas, this discouraging aspect of the work was brought before our Leaders' Meeting; and, after a lengthened and profitable conversation, it was unanimously resolved that the Leaders should meet together at half-past five every Sunday evening, to intercede with God for his blessing upon the preaching of the Gospel, and especially upon the Sabbath-evening service. On the following Sunday, this resolution was put in practice, and the spirit of grace and of supplications was abundantly vouchsafed to the brethren present. An unusual degree of life and power attended the preaching of the word, and we were led to hope for better things. At the Quarterly Meeting held on Monday, December 28th, the state and prospects of our work again occupied our serious attention; and the conversation was distinguished by the tone of humiliation, self-reproach, and increased devotion to God, with which the brethren spoke. At the close of the meeting, a remarkable manifestation of the Divine -presence was vouchsafed, and all felt it good to wait upon the Lord. In the evening a special meeting of friends was held, for the purpose of taking measures for the extinction of a long-standing Circuit-debt of large amount. After the case had been stated by the Circuit-Stewards, proposals were made for immediately raising the required sum. An extraordinary spirit of liberality was evinced, and, in a very short time, nearly the whole amount necessary for the purpose was promised by the parties present. But the manner in which this was done; the spirit of holy consecration to God, and attachment to his cause, expressed by the various donors, were far more valuable and encouraging than the mere contribution. Verily our hearts burned within us; the Lord himself condescended to be present; and the meeting separated under the firm conviction that God was about to accomplish a great work among us. On the following Friday, January 1st, 1847, the Annual Meeting of the Sabbath-school teachers and their friends was held; about one hundred persons, chiefly juvenile, being present. An important change had been made in the arrangements of the school during the year. While this change was in progress, we -were much concerned at the well-meant but mistaken opposition of several of the teachers. But all was overruled for good; and, in the end, a very efficient Bible-class was formed for the elder female scholars, and placed under the care of teachers admirably qualified for their task. The Annual Meeting was an object of great anxiety to us. Too often its character had not been sufficiently spiritual. It may be questioned whether so large a gathering of young persons is not necessarily an evil, unless a spiritual tone and character be given to it. Accordingly this important point was kept in view. The proceedings were commenced by a short prayer-meeting; the Report of the state of the school was given; and many valuable suggestions respecting Sabbath-school operations were offered. One of the Ministers present, observing that a large number of the audience were in an unconverted state, then rose, and, expressing his readiness to become a fool for Christ's sake, gave an account of his own conversion to God. He was followed in a similar strain by another Minister, who closed his statement by solemnly pressing the inquiry, "When will you begin to serve the Lord?" During these recitals, an overwhelming influence came upon the meeting, melting almost all present into tears. It was then proposed to join in solemn prayer; but just as we were proceeding to do so, a friend rose, under the influence of deep emotion, and stated that there were several young persons present to whom he had been speaking respecting religion, and on whom he begged, in the most solemn and affectionate manner, to press the question just asked,-" When will you begin to serve the Lord?" We then united in prayer, and a deep, hallowing, overpowering feeling, pervaded the meeting. There was no noise; but an indescribable "tenderness of heart," "the speechless awe that dares not move;" and little was heard save stifled sobs and sighs. Presently one young female began, in the bitterness of her spirit, to call upon God for mercy. She was enabled to "believe with the heart unto righteousness;" and great was our joy in the Lord. Several persons that night solemnly resolved to give themselves to God; and, for ten weeks subsequently, not a day passed without the conversion of one or more sinners. The following Sabbath was the occasion for the renewal of the covenant. There was an unusually large attendance, including many persons who had never before joined in such a service. "The power of the Lord" was gloriously "present," and, after the public service in the evening, several found peace with God. Services of various kinds were held during the week, at all of which the saving grace of God was manifested. It was therefore determined to hold special services in the chapel during the week following. A sermon was preached every evening except Saturday. The congregations were very large; and many were "pricked to the heart," and savingly converted. Such was the number of penitents, and the increasing power of the Spirit of God among us, that it was found necessary to continue the special services. Arrangements having been made to secure the regular meeting of the classes on the usual nights, we were enabled to hold public service in the chapel four times a week, exclusive of the Sabbath, for the whole of the quarter; and verily the Head of the church was with us in the power of the Spirit, and a great multitude believed, and were added unto the Lord. There are certain points relating to the character of this great work, which deserve special attention, and which we beg to lay before your readers : This In the first place, an observation appears necessary relative to those who have been converted. Generally speaking, they were young persons between fifteen and thirty years of age. Comparatively few older than thirty years were among the number, and very few indeed who had arrived at an advanced age. most admonitory fact deserves to be seriously considered, as it demonstrates the hardening influence of sin, and the dreadful danger of procrastination, especially among those who are in the habit of listening to an evangelical ministry. It further appears that, although some notoriously wicked and profligate persons have been awakened and renewed, by far the larger portion of the new converts consists of young persons, previously steady in their habits, regular members of the Wesleyan congregation in this town, and many of them children of officers and others belonging to the church. In the next place, at a very early stage of the revival, arrangements were made for withdrawing the penitents from the midst of the congregation; and, as the communion-rail afforded facilities for this, they were invited to come forward, and present themselves there as awakened sinners seeking salvation. This had been attempted twelve months previously without success; but now the invitation was extensively obeyed by many hundreds of persons. The act of going forward to the communion-rail was regarded as the avowal of their determination to serve God, and as a solemn confession of Christ before men. Generally speaking, they were not able to take this step, until after anxious deliberation and fervent prayer, and many instances occurred in which two or three weeks elapsed after conviction for sin before the parties thus presented themselves before God and his people. By this arrangement, also, much confusion and unnecessary excitement were avoided. It often happens, in such a revival as this, that there are almost as many separate companies in a chapel as there are penitents, and great apparent confusion is created. Some will be praying in one place; others praising God in another; and so forth. But all this is avoided by the adoption of the plan now mentioned; and, while the work is carried on even more effectively, all things are done decently and in order. But, as it is not our purpose to enter into a special vindication of this plan at present, we dismiss it with the single remark that it gives the officers of the church an opportunity of conversing with the penitents, ascertaining their exact state of mind, and imparting suitable advice, as well as of specially adapting their petitions to the requirements of the cases brought before them. Again: The work in question has been signally distinguished by the solemnity and order with which it has been carried on. This is partly owing to the plan just described. But, in addition to this, measures were taken, by the appointment of door-keepers and other officers, to prevent any interruption on the part of the ungodly and profane. It too frequently happens that many thoughtless persons, attracted by curiosity to such a scene, and perceiving all parties intent upon the work before them, take the opportunity of creating confusion, by indulging in facetious jokes and practices. This disgraceful conduct, which has often been most unrighteously quoted to the disparagement of revivals, was at first occasionally attempted among us; but, by the vigilance and fidelity of the parties appointed to keep order, it was effectually checked; and we have been favoured with the most impressive solemnity and decorum throughout the whole proceedings. As in many similar cases, those "who came to scoff," overawed by the silent but mighty influence of the Spirit, "remained to pray.” Nor would we omit to call special attention to the fact, that, with the exception of the first week of special services, not a single class-meeting, Leaders'meeting, or other institution of Method ism, has been suspended. The whole discipline of our church has been regularly carried out. We have realized the benefit of this, especially in the case of the class-meetings. The name and address of each party professing to obtain mercy has been recorded, and the person has been at once appointed to a suitable class, so as immediately to receive the advantages of the communion of saints. In connexion with this subject, we may state also that several new classes have been formed; and, though at one time considerable difficulty was encountered in filling up the ordinary vacancies among the Leaders, the progress of this work has developed an amount of talent, piety, and energy, in many persons, who have thus been prepared for the important duty of taking charge of the lambs of Christ's flock. By these and similar arrangements, we humbly hope, in dependence upon God's blessing, to retain the great majority of the new converts in Christian communion with us. It is further to be observed, that all parties, especially the officers of the church, have vigorously and zealously co-operated in this great work. Among ourselves, as Ministers, there has never been any difference of judgment or feeling. God has enabled us to work together in much love, and to think and feel alike on all points relating to the salvation of sinners; and our hands have been upheld by a similar unity of sentiment and feeling among our Leaders and people. We have thus known "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity;" and on many occasions have experienced that "it is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." Another fact worthy of notice is, that the meetings have been uniformly closed at ten o'clock at night. Believing as we do that the protraction of revival-services to a late hour is, generally speaking, productive of serious evils, interferes with the domestic duties and arrangements of well-regulated families, and not unfrequently brings discredit on the work of God, there was from the beginning an effort to secure punctuality and uniformity in this respect; and we are happy to record that all our people soon saw the propriety of this measure, acquiesced in, and assisted in carrying it out. You will perceive that there was no attempt in all this at what is sometimes called "getting up" a revival. With the exception of the Leaders' prayer-meeting on the Sabbath-evening, our special services have been the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have striven, by divine help, to wait, all the way through, upon the intimations of God's will; and, believing that any attempt to keep up the special character of our proceedings after the peculiar influence had subsided, would fail, or issue only in fictitious excitement, we determined to be guided by circumstances, in dependence upon God. As long as there were found many persons anxiously inquiring for salvation, the chapel was kept open; and that having ceased to be the case, we have just now returned to our ordinary routine of service and duty. It would be somewhat premature to speak much of the results of this great work. One effect we must mention; namely, that a work similar in kind and proportionate in extent to that in Truro has taken place at Probus, where seventy or eighty persons have been converted, At our March Quarterly Meeting, five hundred and fifty candidates for churchmembership were reported as having received notes on trial, and we rejoiced together in the recollection of the good hand of our God upon us as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. In the evening of that day, a memorable lovefeast was held in the chapel. It was indeed a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. About six hundred were present, one hundred and four of whom bore testimony to the grace of God. The greater number of these had been converted to God in the revival; and, with remarkable simplicity and brevity, they told how God had "brought them up out of the horrible pit and the miry clay." It was a season to be remem bered; and, at its close, the Lord baptized the assembled church with the Holy Ghost and with fire. The attendance upon all the means of grace is greatly and we believe permanently increased; and an unction and power, manifestly from on high, continue to rest upon our various services; and, although, as a season of special and multitudinous conversions, the revival appears in a great measure to have subsided, we are happy to say that great numbers remain under conviction, and the work is still in progress. The fruits of this revival have already appeared in enlarged contributions to the cause of God. At our Missionary Anni versary just held, several persons presented thank-offerings for personal and family benefits received during the blessed visitation; and the sum of £250 2s. Od. was realized, being £90 more than the receipts of 1846, and £155 advance upon those of 1845. The narration of these events fills our hearts to overflowing with gratitude and joy. When we recall the memory of the discouragement and depression which we felt before this work began, of the many wonderful proofs of our great Master's presence and love which have been vouchsafed during its progress, and of the hundreds of sinners that have found redemption in the blood of Christ, we are overwhelmed with self-abasement and with transporting joy. "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.' There may be those who would seek to moderate our transports and to check our joy by cold and calculating speculations as to whether all this multitude will remain steadfast. But with such persons we have little sympathy. It would, indeed, be too much to hope that no dross has been mingled with the fine gold; too much to expect that Satan will not succeed in hindering some of those who have begun to run well. Nor do we forget the solemn and arduous responsibility that devolves upon ourselves and our brethren as to the oversight and pastoral charge of so many new-born souls. To that responsibility we desire to feel tremblingly alive; and, by God's grace, to do our utmost to sustain it. But we are too fully persuaded of the reality of this work, have had too many evidences that it was indeed of God, and have too strong a confidence in Him, to entertain any dark suspicions as to the majority of those who have been added to the church. Let us not think and speak as if religious declension in such cases were a matter of course. The unfaithfulness of God's people, in this respect, has too often proved the precursor of extensive apostasy. Rather let us have strong faith in God as to the continuance and extension of the work, the very best guarantee for its conservation; and let us commend these "lambs" in fervent and ceaseless prayer to the care of "the good Shepherd." If we combine this spirit with a laborious and affectionate vigilance over them, we may surely hope that, notwithstanding some possible cases of backsliding, hundreds will have to bless God for ever for this day of visitation. Upon the whole, then, we do rejoice, yea, and we will rejoice. "God, even our own God," hath blessed us. We acknowledge his hand; we confess our own utter nothingness and unworthiness. We would that man should be utterly lost sight of, and that the Lord alone should be exalted in this day. But, to the glory of his grace, let it be proclaimed upon the housetops that he has visited and redeemed his people in Truro. "His arm he hath bared, And publish the power of his passion below." In closing this account, we would thankfully state that other churches have been partakers with ourselves of this blessing. Among our Baptist and Independent brethren particularly, several have been awakened and turned unto the Lord. To this must be added, that several persons belonging to Wesleyan congregations in the Circuits adjoining Truro have received salvation among us; and that many who were previously members of the society, but had not realized the witness of Divine acceptance, have been enabled to do so. Including all these classes of people, and the five hundred and fifty who are now candidates for church-membership in this Circuit, we have little doubt that nearly seven hundred immortal souls have been brought to God during this wonderful manifestation of the Spirit. A good effect has been produced upon all classes in the town. O that the inhabitants of this highly-favoured place may know the day of their visitation; and that not only here, but through this interesting county, and the world at large, "all may catch the flame, Truro, April 19th, 1847. |