that has produced a most salutary change.' The police reports, too, are exceedingly favorable; the chief constable of one of our largest counties, which includes a good many towns, told me that there is a diminution of considerably more than onethird, upon all that class of crimes including violence, &c., such as assaults and disorderly conduct. Now I do not venture to lay down any rules in regard to this great movement. I remember a most intelligent Irish Presbyterian minister saying, that, when the north of Ireland was visited, he formed his plans in anticipation of the wished-for revival in his own place. But when it came these were all swept away, and he was just forced to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way. I believe, the only rule lies in the two great commandments - Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,' and 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' God will carry us through this and nothing else. At the same time, there is much room for wisdom and prudence. Much may be done by any lovinghearted man, blessed with a fair share of moral courage, if he throw himself into the work. I can never forget the weighty words uttered by a member of this house-Superintendance, Suggestion, and Substitution. If we take these for our guide and go into the work in dependence on the Spirit of God, He will enable us to glorify Him and benefit the souls of men. With regard to young converts, when they go and state quietly to their fellow-men what the Lord hath done for them, I believe that is a legitimate employment for them. I do not think it a good thing for them to be long employed in this way, however. When one of them has stated his experience in a few meetings, it would be wise in him to retire and cultivate fresh knowledge, and learn a spirit of duty to God."

An American divine, in the midst of a powerful outpouring of the Spirit recorded in this volume, answered the objections of some cautious minds, by

a communication which we give from the Christian Mirror:

“Will you kindly insert in your next issue the following remarks of Dr. Chalmers? They are found in the New York edition of his sermons, vol. 1 pp. 116, 117. Although we are forbidden to call any man Master upon earth, there are some with whom, in matters of religion, human names have great weight, and for their sakes as well as others it may be well to give publicity, at this time, to these observations.

*

"He recently observed, in discoursing on the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him crucified, that some were visited with an alarming sense of danger, and were long kept in a state of pain and perplexity, and had much of disquietude upon their spirits, ere they found their way to a place of rest or a place of enlargement. * But we further observed, that, though this was frequent in the history of conversions, it was far from universal. And why should it? There is a message of pardon from heaven at our door, and its very first demand upon us is, that we should give credit thereto. If any one claim upon us be preferable to another, surely it is the claim of Him who cannot lie, that we shall believe in his testimony. Are we to hold the truth of God in abeyance, aye, and until we have walked some round of mental discipline and experience, that may liken the history of our transition from darkness to light to that of some fellow mortal who has gone before us? Are we to postpone our faith in an actual report brought to us from the upper sanctuary, till we have brought the frame of our spirits to its rigid adjustment, by having travelled over a course of certain feelings and fluctuations?

We know that there is a peace where there is no peace; and, better than this sleep of death, were the disturbance of loud

and perpetual alarm, from which there might be no respite to the sinner, till forced to betake himself to the only effectual hiding-place. But better, most assuredly, still, that you saw the hiding-place to be open now, and that, without the interval of a single moment, you have fled for refuge there, and that the soul had no sooner broken loose from the tranquility of nature, than it instantly fastened on the anchor of hope that was most sure and steadfast. At this rate, there would be no season of intermediate darkness. Converts would experience now what was oft experienced in the days of the Apostles. Their belief would instantly come in the train of the gospel testimonyand their joy would instantly come in the train of their belief."

It needs no argument to prove that the church of Christ occupies a place in her march of conquest, of peculiar interest. The world is unsettled as never before, theologically and politically. Error unshackled is abroad, confronting, in its most daring and subtle forms, "the truth as it is in Jesus." Governments are shaken, and lawlessness grows defiant on every hand. God's judgments are abroad, and the fragments of the shaken order of things fill the air. But comparatively unemployed and unfelt, are the energies of His dear Zion. A writer has well said, "she is two-fold in her character, having under the one visible form, the church of the world, and within that circle of destructive influence, the Church of Christ." Covetousness, which is idolatry, has hoarded God's silver and gold,— ambition has devoted the best talent and highest position to sectarian controversy,-pleasure-loving has taken un

der Christian patronage, amusements and frivolity, with the plea of cheerfulness, which have paralyzed her spiritual strength, and practically wiped out the line of separation from the world. Unbelief and licentious charity have disguised and modified the evangelical system; in other words, the gospel of the Son of God, as it fell from his lips armed with the retributive sanctions of law, and melting appeals of the cross. Nor has she been true to liberty and humanity. We know that these statements have a limited application; but sin must be felt, and put away from the Church of Christ; then in the might of an entire consecration to her Lord, with wrestling prayer, and the sword of the Spirit in her hand, will she become "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." Jehovah's fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge the floor. And it is fitting, that we, who bear His name who has declared that "judgment must begin at the house of God," should inquire of him upon our knees: "Who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth?"

Oh! shall the hosts of God's elect dictate to the Spirit of God when, how, and by whom he shall work in the redemption of a world straining on its fetters, and sighing for deliverance?

The captives in material chains, and the slaves of sin, moving in a great caravan to the shades of a mornless night, must stir the heart of the church to

wrestle and to labor, as never before since time began. We believe they will; and that soon her victories will attract the interest of the nations, as do now the triumphs of the crimson field of martial combat.

Forcibly says an eminent American divine:

"The time is coming, when his successes shall be reported with more than the rapidity of Napoleon's victories; when the press shall teem with intelligence of Christian movements in the world; when the steamer shall furrow the deep to speed the tidings of His power; when the electric wires shall thrill with heavenly life, to convey from city to city, and from continent to continent, the news of revivals of religion, and of' nations born in a day.' The kingdom of Christ is yet to be the one thing thought of in the world, and at every market, in every exchange, in every bulletin; at the street corners men shall speak of the glory of His kingdom, and talk of His power one to another, making known His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom."