word of the Lord has free course, and where darkness of soul, defective views of truth, sacerdotal superstition, lifeless formality, glaring ungodliness, and unmasked infidelity prevail; we have no voice penetrating the ear of the nation and no instrumentality pervading the realm.

It might, we are persuaded, have been otherwise, for labour can never be in vain in the Lord; but now, we fear that the summer is drawing to a close, and that the sickle will ere long be thrust in. The preciousness of opportunity has been lost by us, and the night is coming when no man can work. Something however has yet to be done, and we believe that the Head of the Church is preparing us to assist in doing it. Though "the time is short," "the bride of the Lamb" is not yet ready; though "the end of all things" seems to be at hand, the "other sheep" are not all gathered in; though "the day of the Lord draweth near," "the remnant according to the election of grace" is not yet made up. And in what light can we regard the revival of an earnest spirit of conse cration, activity, and aggressiveness among us, but as an indication, that the Lord of the harvest is renewing us as in the days of old, and calling us out to aid in the completion of the spiritual ingathering; when the churches of Christendom, bringing their sheaves with them, shall reecho the harvest-home of angels; and the Husbandman himself, surveying the granary, shall "rejoice with singing" over the "much fruit," which the buried " corn of wheat" has been the means of producing.

But our energy, like our love, must not be in word and in tongue, but "in deed and in truth." The earnestness which expends itself in verbal expressions, or prescribes to the church her duties whilst practically passive itself, is of no more worth than the sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal. If we are really imbued with the spirit of evangelism, and long to enlarge the place of our tent, let us prove the sincerity of our devotion by active endeavour put forth in energetic faith. Instead of being fascinated by the enchantment of labour at a distance, or inventing new forms of toil which may be specially pleasurable, let us throw ourselves more heartily into plans of usefulness made ready to our hand; endeavouring by every available and scriptural measure to benefit our neighbours, and to leaven with truth those needy vicinities which stretch like mission fields around us, affording ample scope for our most active energies, and promising a rich reward for our labour of love. It is impossible, however, that our labourers can work alone; or even personally and immediately connect themselves with every desirable enterprize. Our church members, and especially our young people, must gird themselves for duty; and " as every one has received the gift, even so let him minister the same as a good steward of manifold grace.' The momentous work of enlightening the world, has been entrusted by the Saviour to his church; and if any of her divisions neglect their commission, they will assuredly suffer both from reaction and retribution. Great talents are not so necessary in this work as great faith. With such an infallible instrument as the Gospel, it is more of heart than of head that is needed in its prosecution. Our impotence does not arise so much from incapacity, as from faithlessness; so that though we have but little strength, yet, if we have much faith-faith in the incalculable preciousness of the soul-faith in the converting, justifying, sanctifying power of the Cross -faith in the efficacy of the Gospel as the record of divine love, and

in the power of the Spirit who quickens whom he will; we shall remove mountains, and plant trees in the midst of the sea,—that is, we shall achieve wonders in our own strength impossible, and accomplish results contrary to the course of nature.

Our hope is, that the earnest spirit of the conference was but the index of the earnest spirit of our congregations; and that the effects of a wide-spread zeal will be more and more apparent. The human body, of which the church is the spiritual counterpart, has been endowed with activity, as well as pervaded with sympathies, in every part; so that the incongruity and inconsistency must be manifest, if each believer is not engaged in some department of holy duty, doing as well as saying, giving as well as receiving, and co-operating with the faithful in Christ Jesus, so as to be a fellow-labourer with God. In no other way shall we be able to "do exploits" in the service of our Master, or prove such a blessing as we ought, either to our contemporaries or to posterity. But, walking by the same rule of diligent activity, and minding the same thing in voluntary concurrence, we shall, through the grace of our God, be a light in the world, dispelling the darkness which covers much people; a salt in the earth, preserving it from moral corruption; and an army "terrible with banners," engaged in the spiritual conquest of our race, pulling down the strongholds of Satan, and establishing the kingdom of God's dear Son.

V. With a reference to the spirit of prayer which characterized the conference, we close this sketch; directing our brethren and sisters especially to the Digest of the Minutes,* for illustrations of our remarks, and traces of other features besides those we have selected.

Our history, whilst it is that of a self-denying, uncompromising, suffering people, feeble withal, and unprofitable, is also the history of a praying church. It was in answer to prayer, that, when driven from home as exiles in the world for the sake of the truth, our ancestors found a refuge and a rest prepared them by the mighty God of Jacob. It was in answer to prayer, that, when conflicting sentiments and ecclesiastical partizanship urged on a schismatic crisis, the Spirit of love so fused and blended the discordant elements that "all were of one mind and of one heart." It was in answer to prayer, that by mysterious providences wide doors of usefulness were thrown open in many "dark places of the earth;" and heralds of the Cross were found prepared for service in the frigid or the torrid zone, not counting their lives dear unto them, that they might win souls for the Redeemer. But why should we enumerate? since all our spiritual blessings and successes have enriched and gladdened us in answer to prayer. If Amalek has ever prevailed, it has been when we ceased to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting. If the members of our spiritual body have at any time been palsied, it has been when they restrained prayer before God. Indications, perhaps, are not wanting, that the Head of the Church has had something against us in later times, with reference to the fervency and frequency of request; but we trust that the Spirit of grace and of supplication dwells richly

The Digest of the Minutes of the Provincial Conference, is now printed, and may be had of any of our ministers, price 3d.

among us at this moment; and as the promise is still "Amen," "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you," -we have reason to anticipate such showers of blessing from above, that there will not be room enough to contain them. This persuasion has been greatly strengthened, by the prayerful spirit which prevailed at the synod. It was evident, that the brethren who constituted it were deeply convinced of the paramount importance of an engagement so necessary and so beneficial as intercession, in reference both to purpose and duty, to personal piety and family religion, to con gregational prosperity and general usefulness. The condition, "for all this will I be inquired of," was solemnly impressed on all hearts; and the encouragement, "let us draw near in full assurance of faith," fully realized by every soul. We felt persuaded that "he is faithful who hath promised, who also will do it ;" and that if we open our mouths wide, he will assuredly fill them. We are not straitened in him, but in ourselves. Should we be barren or unfruitful, decrepit or unprofitable, it must be because we ask not, or because we ask amiss; and therefore let us pray that we may pray aright; let us ask that we may ask in faith, nothing doubting; let us beseech the God of all grace, who "is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think," to help our infirmities by his Holy Spirit; with the grasp of faith let us hold Him fast, who excites our importunity by making as though he would go further,— saying with Jacob, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me," or exclaiming with the fervent prophet, "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." "If," says Jeremy Taylor, "you will increase and flourish in the works of grace, empty the great clouds sometimes, and let them fall into a full shower of prayer; choose out the seasons in your own discretion, when prayer shall overflow like Jordan in the time of harvest."

Thus,

Besieging Heaven with prayer we shall engage
The Infinite; draw round our time-state woes
Mysterious sympathies, absorbing all;
And gain from power unlimited, the strength,
Made perfect in our weakness.-Pray therefore
Without ceasing, children of God, and prosper.
Into your spacious censers, cast your souls,
Your homes, your race; the body catholic;

The coming kingdom; and with copious incense,

Cloud the mercy-seat. There He whose name is love

Will meet you, hear you, bless you; and from your hearts,

To well tuned lips, shall rise the solace-song:

He that spared not his well-beloved Son,

But freely gave him up for all; how shall

He not with such a gift unasked, freely

Into our lap pour ALL THINGS, when we pray?

Chemes for Chought.

MATTHEW 1. 1-17.

1. The solemn succession of the race. The representatives of forty generations appear before us, and pass away. One generation is buried in the dust of another: future generations will be entombed in our ashes. But though men depart, man remains. Generations, like waves, rise from our common nature, and break on the eternal shore; but, like the ocean, still on it rolls in undiminished plenitude and power. The world can do without us, for we shall soon cease to be. This fact serves to reprove worldliness and to inculcate humility. Death is the law and lot of all.

II. The physical connexion of the race. Each of these generations sprung from the other, as grain from grain. Humanity, however numerous its generations, is one: it may have a myriad branches, but it is one tree, rising from one germ and ruled by one law. This unity, 1st, demands the spirit of brotherhood. How monstrous does the belligerent element appear in its presence! 2nd. It helps to explain the transmission of moral character. The tie of physical relationship which links men together is a stupendous instrument of moral influence--a vehicle through which moral ideas, dispositions, and habits, are transmitted from sire to son. 3rd. It enables each generation to help its successors. Because of this unity, we can understand the thoughts and reasonings of men who lived thousands of years ago; and derive good from the writings of Moses, and David, and Paul. Though we have only a few years to live, we can work to bless posterity. The heart of humanity is in us all, and to the heart of the last man we can speak.

III. The moral differences of the race. In this list we recognize some men of distinguished goodness; and some. pre-eminent for wickedness. This shows that, however potent the influence which generations can exert on each other, it is not resistless and absolute. There is a power lodged in each man's bosom to prevent the combined influence of all past generations from moulding his character. This power is one great peculiarity of his nature-connects him with moral government-makes him a responsible agent.

IV. The partial history of the race. Of these forty generations we have for the most part but little more than the mention of the name of one individual of each. We talk of " the history of the world," but who knows the history of one of a generation? What a biography has each! What

hopes-fears-sorrows-joys-battles-anarchies-epochs-revolutions, are connected with one soul! Vast cycles in the great eternity will be absorbed in fathoming the history of man.

V. The common Redeemer of the race. Down through all these generations Jesus came. "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through

death he might destroy him that had the power of death-that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage." God redeems man by man—

"Who this is we must learn, for man he seems

In all his lineaments; though in his face

The glimpses of his Father's glory shine."
(To be continued.)

A Portion for the Young.

I. WORDS OF INSTRUCTION.

II. GOD'S CARE FOR THE YOUNG.

Lord, while like them our course we run,
Be thou to us that Friend;

And in the footsteps of thy Son
Conduct us to the end.