much to promote the work of God, and advance the kingdom of Christ, as by prayer. By this, even women, and children and servants may have a public influence. God is, if I may so say, at the command of the prayer of faith." Edwards dwells warmly upon the Scriptural duty and privilege of private and public fasts. Christians must go through Gethsemane, to the cross, with their burden of souls. The divine appointment of Evangelists in the early history of the church, none will doubt; nor we think can it be shown that their office has ever been set aside.

Dr. Porter, after presenting very forcibly the primary importance of the pastoral relation, recognizes the value, if not necessity, of successful helpers in gathering God's harvest: "In a large congregation, where the ordinary labors of the ministry are as great as one man can possibly sustain, a failure of his health, or a revival among his people, may render it indispensable that he should have help in his work for weeks or months successively. Such help has often been furnished by the occasional labors of other pastors, who have short leave of absence from their own flocks.

had a

But

perhaps the only adequate provision for such emergencies would be, that a few men, of rare endowments for this particular service, men of God, distinguished for judgment, fervor of piety and suavity of temper, should be held in reserve to

labor where they are most needed, as assistants to stated pastors." We think the following resolutions drawn by the Rev. Mr. Balkam, of Lewiston, Me., a city blessed with a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit in connection with the labors of an evangelist, expresses the truth on this subject:

"1. God honors the established ministry of the Christian religion by employing, in the conversion of sinners, usually, the truth, as preached by his faithful ministers.

"2. The establishment of such a ministry, however efficient and successful in any branch of the church, has by no means exhausted the instrumentalities of salvation. The prerogative being still His, to project, even into the most cultivated portions of his vineyard, new and additional means.

"3. Masses of precious truth, imparted by many an able and faithful pulpit, sometimes lie inoperative, at least in that which is most essential, because unquickened by the Spiritby importunity of prayer-by devout ardor of sympathy— by fervor of appeal—and by variety of motive made intense and almost irresistable. To do this may demand, for a time, men and measures not usually employed.

"4. Evangelists are of divine appointment, and have their peculiar work. That work is never in derogation of, but always collateral and auxillary to, the established ministry; being designed merely to supplement its officers and labors, and thus be tributary to the conversion of souls, the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the glory of His name."

At the meeting of the General Assembly of the Free Church, in Edinburgh, May, 1860, the statement of the Rev. Julius Wood, D. D., formerly moderator, in whose church Mr. Hammond labored,

fills a most important place in this connection.

It

is given respecting the phenomena of revivals, in a report of that body, as follows:

"Dr. JULIUS WOOD, Convener of the Committee on Religion and Morals, then gave in his report. He said-This, in some

respects, is the most important and interesting report that was ever laid on the table of the General Assembly. If, as has been said, 'a living soul is of more value than a dead world.' what joy has there been in Heaven over souls, that have been made alive in Scotland, since we met here in General Assembly a year ago! In consequence of instructions from the last General Assembly, the Committee on Religion and Morals transmitted a circular to every minister and probationer in a charge or station throughout the Free Church. In reply to that circular I have received 168 returns-169, for one has reached me since the Assembly met. These 169 returns are from 66 Presbyteries of the Church, all the Presbyteries except 5. From some Presbyteries we have received only one return, from other Presbyteries we have received several. Of the 169 returns, 86 report decided awakening and revival in the congregations of which they report. These 86 congregations are to be found in 42 Presbyteries of the Church. Thus in 42 Presbyteries we have reported, decided awakening or revival; and in the other 83 congregations which are to be found in 26 Presbyteries, we are gratified by being told that, whilst there is no decided awakening or revival, there is in almost every instance, without exception, increased attention to, and interest in spiritual things. We find, indeed, that since the returns were sent in to me, awakening has taken place in a number of localities. Some of these returns were sent in two or three months ago; and I find, that since then there has been a decided work of the Lord going on in those places, whilst at that time they were able only to report a considerable interest in religious things. In many of

our congregations, there was a gradual increase of the spirit of prayer and increased expectation of revival, which was quickened when we had tidings of the Lord's great work in America and Ireland. These tidings both excited gratitude to God, and raised expectations that He would not pass us by; and, when we used the Scriptural means for obtaining the blessing, they were blessed to us by God. There was increased attention to the preaching of the Word, increased attention at prayer meetings, and an increase in the exercise of prayer in our social circles, in our families, and in secret. And, when the Lord had thus prepared us for receiving the blessing, it pleased him to pour it out very remarkably and very abundantly. I cannot help observing, that one great means of awakening seems to have been,the communicating of intelligence of what the Lord had done in other places. I find in almost all the reports, that this was done with the most blessed results. The information interested the people, and brought the thing home to them; they felt that it was a reality; and it excited a desire to partake of the benefit, and led them to use the means God has appointed for obtaining the benefit. I believe we can scarcely ascribe too much influence to the communication of religious intelligence, in bringing about the results in which we this day rejoice. The revival throughout the country began in every variety of way, and through every variety of instrumentality, sometimes under the quiet ministrations of the stated pastor, sometimes through the visit of a stranger from a distance; sometimes it was a convert, who went and told his simple story of the Lord's goodness to him. I find, in many of the returns,mention made of such men as North, Grant, Radcliffe, Hammond, Forlong, and Weaver. God seems to have honored the labors of these men in a marvellous way. The work was sometimes carried on by a single remark made by one individual to another—by the repetition of a text of Scripture by a message from one friend to another or by a letter written from the scene of revivals to friends or relatives. I believe that the day of judgment

ment

only will reveal, how much the work has been forwarded by the letters of Christian men and women, written in the warmness of their hearts to friends and relatives at a distance; for no sooner is a sinner brought to Christ, than his first thought is — ' I will tell my relatives and friends what Christ has done for me.' The convert cannot rest, until he has made known to those in whom he is interested the Lord's work upon him. I find from the report, that in a number of places there was considerable excitement. I do not wonder at that, Moderator. When men for the first time find themselves on the brink of hell, with nothing between their souls and perdition but the frail, fleeting breath in their nostrils, I do not wonder that they should feel alarmed and excited—when they feel themselves for the first time to be under the wrath and condemnation of a righteous and holy God. My wonder is, that there is not more excite- that people still unconverted can hear of sin and hell, of a Saviour and heaven, without feelings of emotion. Ah! that excitement; people are afraid of it, and sometimes it comes with a mighty power, as if it would sweep everything away before it; but when one is enabled to cast himself humbly upon God, and to enter into the work earnestly, it is not such a formidable thing after all. Our God is a God of order; and if we cast ourselves upon his strength, and take counsel of Him, I believe He will enable any man of ordinary prudence and courage to guide these excited meetings for his glory, and for the good of souls. Then I am very glad to be able to state, that, from almost all the reports I am able to gather, there has been a great change in the manners and habits of the people. Where the awakening has been anything like general, there has been upon general society an awe and restraint; and I find testimony borne by employers to the effects that have been produced upon their workmen. One will say, if you doubt the reality of the revival, Come to my workshop, and you will see what it is; if you knew my men before, come and see what they are now, and you will see that something has been at work