pose indirectly, by generating a diversity of views and interests. In unnumbered instances has he in this way arrested the work of God, and changed the church from a mansion of love into an arena of fierce and acrimonious debate; the vitality of religion has in consequence pined, if not utterly perished, amid the conflict of opinion; and infidels, glad of the opportunity to impugn religion itself, because of the inconsistency of its votaries, have exclaimed with malicious triumph,—

- tantæne animis cælestibus iræ ?

In heavenly minds can such fierce zeal exist?

When shall this reproach be rolled away from the door of the Christian Church? If not until all who experience the grace, and practically recognise the authority of the Redeemer, perfectly accord in their views on all points of religious inquiry,—the plurality of causes that are constantly operating to preclude such a general agreement, must awaken apprehensions that the turbid stream of contention must mingle interminably with the waters of the sanctuary. But this surely is not necessary. Amidst all the diversities of sentiment that exist among those who coincide in maintaining the fundamental truths of the Gospel, there is ground of sufficient breadth, and pre-eminently holy, still left on which they may stand, and keep-what is of infinitely greater moment than a mere accordance of speculative opinion-'the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'

For the information of the reader, who may wish to know to what extent the principles inculcated by Mr. Alline were diffused in the Provinces, and what be came of his followers, it may be proper to add a few particulars. His labours, and those of his coadjutors,

produced at that period a very strong sensation; and resulted in the formation of churches in various parts of the country zealously attached to his peculiar views, who, from their pretensions to superior illumination in the things of God, were designated New Lights. Mr. Alline's career was short; and after his death those churches, of which he had been the founder, soon declined. Many who had been members of them subsequently united with the Baptists; others neither associated with any department of the Church, nor maintained the institutions of religion among themselves, but sank into a state of spiritual lethargy. Very few of them now exist as a distinct people. There is still, however, one church of this persuasion at Falmouth, near Windsor; in which there are members whose deep, uniform, and unsuspected piety, are truly ornamental to their Christian profession.

CHAPTER IV.

REMARKS ON PROVIDENCE-MR. BLACK VISITS PETIT CODIAC IS INTRODUCED TO MISS GAY, AFTERWARDS MRS. BLACK-HER CONVERSION-HIS FIRST VISIT TO CORNWALLIS, HORTON, FALMOUTH, WINDsor, AND HALIFAX-REFLECTIONS ON A SUICIDE-INTERVIEW WITH A PERSON IN DESPAIR-HIS FIRST VISIT TO ANNAPOLIS-THE EFFECTS OF MR. ALLINE'S INFLUENCE AT AMHERST-MR. BLACK PUBLISHES A SERMON PREACHED AT WINDSOR HIS CONTROVER

SY WITH A

CLERGYMAN-HIS

WARNING A SET OF PLUNDERERS.

FAITHFULNESS IN

THE operations of Providence in the history of individuals, as well as of nations, are replete with instruction. They form a practical revelation of the Deity. The student of this volume, from his incapacity correctly to appreciate, at all times, the motives of human conduct, or to predict the results of the divine procedure from its partial developments, is indeed admonished to be extremely careful in the investigation of facts, and equally cautious in deducing conclusions from them. But it sometimes happens that the purposes of divine providence are so luminous, that, like the sun, they are seen by their own light; and this is, perhaps, most frequently the case, when they concur, or rather coalesce, with the influence of grace in the production of effects that have an immediate bearing upon character and eternity,

From the close affinity that subsists between the doctrine of a special providence and that of divine grace, the opponents of the latter have ever been distinguished by hostility to the former. The speculative theist, it is true, has no objection that the Deity occupy himself in regulating the machinery of the material universe, provided he do not concern himself with the world of mind. He may sit throned in empyreal light, and bend an eye radiant with complacency on the unnumbered suns and systems that roll beneath his feet; illustrating, by the harmony of their movements, the consummate wisdom of the general laws and arrangements by which they are controlled; but he must leave the heart of man unvisited and the conscience of man undisturbed.-And for this "pompous inanity," forsooth, we must give up the Scripture doctrine of Providence; "of which (in the words of the pious Hooker concerning Law) there can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power both angels and men, and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent, admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy."

The agency of divine providence, in connection with Mr. Black's call to the ministry, and the wide and interesting scene of its exercise, becomes progressively conspicuous, as we follow him in his ardent race of usefulness. The population of Nova Scotia amounted probably to about twelve thousand souls when he began to preach. In many parts the people were wholly destitute of the means of grace; and in others their

salutary influence was neutralized by the unevangelical character of those who conducted them; while, as we have already seen, Mr. Alline and his coadjutors blended principles of a most pernicious tendency with the inculcation of living godliness. At such a period, and under such circumstances, the energies of Mr. Black's enlightened zeal were most opportunely put forth; and so unsparing was his activity, that in a few years, the beneficial influence of his labours was more or less felt throughout almost the entire extent of the Province.

January 9th, 1782, he writes thus: "I set off in company with another to visit our friends on the Petitcodiac river. We arrived at Memramcook that night. Here I left a young woman in great distress, two days after which God set her soul at liberty. On the 10th I preached, and we had an affecting meeting. We then set out for the French settlement on the north side of the river, and tarried that night at a French house, where we had a little straw for our bed, and about two yards of wrapper to cover us, one of the coldest nights during the winter. The next day we proceeded on our journey, walking about nineteen miles on snow-shoes, and were of course much fatigued. I preached from Sam. i : 12, but experienced no liberty.

“Sunday, 13th.—I preached at the village. Many were deeply affected, and declared, with tears, that they sought the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. After preaching, I walked to the head of the river, a distance of about nine miles.

"Monday, 14th.—I preached twice, and on the following day returned to the village. On visiting Mr. Hopper, I found him rejoicing in God. He informed