to pray in my family, I have been so overcome, that I could not proceed. Pastor. And do you not pray in your family? Mr. F. I do not statedly. Pastor. And because you are too diffident, or nervous? Mr. F. Yes. Pastor. But are you thus diffident of your powers in other things? Do you not sometimes make little speeches in town-meetings, and did you ever doubt that you had talents to make yourself understood on such occasions?" the spirit of prayer seemed the first step to newness of life. As often, therefore, as the "Friday meeting" was convened, I called upon every male member of the church present, to lead us in prayer, and they as often declined, excepting the two venerable deacons, who were always ready to "stand in their lot." One of them, therefore, or myself, would pray, and then we would appeal with tenderness to the consciences of our brethren whether this could be right in the sight of God? Here were military men, political men, men in civil office, men of learning, and accustomed to address public assemblies, but when call-made remarks in town meetings, but ed on to pray, in a little church meeting, they had no talent and no courage for such a purpose! Bold and zealous in other interests, but, in this greatest of all concerns, timid and diffident to a degree which had destroyed the power of utterance! Mr. F. It is true, I have sometimes then I am always very much agitated when I do so, and do not think that this proves that I ought to pray in public. Prayer is a much more solemn concern, and my feelings would overcome me. Besides, there are so many others that are more competent. Pastor. But do you ever think that there are others in the town-meeting more competent than yourself? Yet you do not hesitate to attempt so to explain subjects, as to enlighten and correct their views. Now, if you felt equally in earnest to urge your plea before the throne of grace, is it not probable you would feel constrained This state of things continued for more than three months, and no visible impression was made on the church, excepting that the meetings were more fully attended, and with some increase of solemnity. At length, as I had returned from a Friday meeting, and sat musing in my study, Mr. F., an aged member of the church, came in, and with some agitation and embarrass-to speak, notwithstanding your conment, commenced the following dia-scious inferiority, especially when urglogue : ed to it by your brethren, and when there are none but brethren to hear you? Mr. F. I have called, Mr. to say to you that I think you do wrong to ask me to pray in the church meetings;-1 have not the gift of prayer. Pastor. I am sorry you feel so, Mr. F. A man cannot use a gift which he does not possess, and he certainly will not use one which he thinks he does not possess. But is it true that you do not possess the gift of prayer? Do you never pray? Mr. F. O yes. I did not mean to say that I do not pray. I trust I do pray mentally, and that God knows my desires. But what I mean is, that I have not the gift to pray in words in such a manner as to be profitable to others. My nervous system is so agitated, and my mind is so confused, when I think of praying in the presence of others, that I do not believe I could utter a word. When I have attempted Mr. F. Perhaps I should, but I do not think I have suitable talents for public prayer. Pastor. It ought to be a matter of solemn consideration with you, Mr. F., whether your want of the gift be not, in fact, a want of the spirit of prayer. I do not mean, however, to be too urgent with you. Perhaps I have been wrong in having so long persevered in asking you to pray. But you will permit me to relate an anecdote, which I hope will be found to illustrate your own case in more respects than one. Some ten years ago, I knew a man of about your age, and, I should think, 'of just about your talents and standing in society. He was troubled in the same way that you are, and on Saturday evening he went to his minister, and, Pastor. Then if you are present at the next Friday meeting, I shall ask you to pray, and yours must be the responsibility of deciding whether it is your duty to comply. The conversation here closed, and we shook hands with a mutual expression of desire that the Great Searcher of hearts would guide him to a right decision. Mr. F. retired, evidently troubled and smitten in conscience, and I waited with much anxiety the result of this interview. At the next Friday meeting, he was present. His We were seated as usual, and I began countenance indicated deep emotion. in the order in which they sat, to ask the brethren to pray. Every individual refused until the invitation reached Mr. F. He rose in his place, and said, "Let us pray." His agitation was truly great; every fibre of his system seemed to be moved. His voice was tremulous, but his utterance was dis for the same reason that you now urge, requested that he would not ask him to pray in the Sabbath evening conference, which was to occur the next day. He said he had not the gift of prayer, and it embarrassed him to be asked so often. The minister, at his solicitation, consented not to ask him to pray. The man returned to his dwelling, but his sleep forsook him in the night season; he found no rest until he arose early on Sabbath morning, and went to his minister, and withdrew his ill-judged, and, as he then thought, wicked request, and earnestly desired that he would ask him to pray. His minister accordingly asked him at evening, and I heard him pray in a style of penitence and fervor that I can never forget. Often, afterwards, I had occasion to witness the improvement of his religious character, and his activity and usefulness as a Christian. This I relate as a matter of fact. But that was a time of revi-tinct, and his words were evidently val of religion, when men's consciences such as the Holy Ghost teacheth. His were tender, and the influence of such thoughts were remarkably collected. a strange request upon his own mind He began with expressions of deep was perhaps not much to be wondered contrition before God, and then led us at. If it were now such a time within a brief and pertinent prayer; at the us, I might hope for the same result in your case. As it is, however, this is perhaps too much to expect, and if I fail of convincing you that your request wrong, 1 will comply with it, and hereafter, in our church-meetings, I will ask the brother on your right hand, and the brother on your left, to lead our supplications, and will pass by Mr. F., as one, who, though he has been twenty years a professor of religion, has not "the gift of prayer!". This, however, I shall do with reluctance, and only because you request it, for it is my own opinion, that you ought to pray, both in your family and in the presence of your brethren, and I do hope you will withdraw your request. If you do not, Mr. F., I am sure the remembrance of it will trouble you in the night watches. Shall I therefore comply with your request, or will you is withdraw it? Mr. F. You must do what you think is your duty; and if I am wrong in making the request, I hope you will not regard it. close of which he sat down, overwhelmed with emotion. The effect upon the meeting was electric. Every heart was melted, and every eye suf fused with tears. An appropriate address was then made, and other supplications were offered by the two deacons and myself. When the meeting was dismissed, the members retired with a silence which indicated deep feeling and self-abasement. The permanent results of this occurrence have been as happy as its immediate effect was marked and extraor dinary. The commencement of a new era in the church of B-n may now be distinctly traced to the prayer of in his own house, and others soon folMr. F. He erected the family altar lowed his example, confessing their guilt to their companions and children. The Friday meeting was attended with a new interest; the tongue of the dumb was unloosed, new voices were heard in prayer, sinners began to flock to the sanctuary, a revival of religion llensued, many souls were converted, and, up to the present time, few of the I churches of the land have been more signally blessed. What a lesson is this to professing Christians, who have ceased to pray! Let it be known in all the churches, that the GIFT OF PRAYER is the SPIRIT OF PRAYER. He who possesses the latter, will not long have occasion to complain of the lack of the former. THE END OF A TRANSGRESSOR. In a congregation where I statedly laboured in the ministry several years, Mr. R. was a constant attendant on my ministrations. His parents were pious, and had early instructed him in the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion. He evidently, at times, had a conviction of his sinfulness, and need of forgiveness, and like others, resolved on future repentance. He always confessed that he knew his duty, and hoped some day to comply with it, but never evinced a readiness to submit to God. But ere many years elapsed, he was attacked with a disease that baffled all medical skill, and after about three months from its commencement, prostrated him in the grave. therefore I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh. When your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, you shall call, and I will not answer; you shall seek me early, but you shall not find me.' He will not answer me; I am dying, and my poor soul will be in hell ere long. Oh, had I mountains of gold, I would give them freely for an interest in Christ. But, oh, it is too late. I am lost, lost for ever." Prayers were offered up for him, but no relief did he obtain, nor could I encourage him by all the promises of the Gospel to repenting sinners. They are not for me," was his only reply. 66 Early the next morning, I hastened to see him, if living. I found him alive, and in a very comfortable state. I said to him, "God hath heard prayer, and prolonged your life. You have yet a little space for repentance, and be entreated to improve it, for you cannot recover." "O," he replied, "I shall now get well." "Be not deceived," was my reply; "suffer me to be faithful to you,-you cannot live long." He replied, "If you talk after this manner, I will not hear you preach any more." I tried, but in vain, to fix his mind on the necessity of preparation for death. He would not regard it. He changed the subject, and went on for some minutes to relate the circumstances preceding, attending, and following the victory gained by Gen. Jackson, during the last war, at New-Orleans. I remarked, that this During his illness, I frequently visited and conversed with him, always urging him to comply with the requirements of the Gospel, and to repent and believe in Christ; but the same reluctance to obey the Gospel constantly prevailed. He did not think his sickness dangerous; he should soon be well again. "He intended to attend religious meetings; he knew religion was need-topic was not interesting to me at that ful, and hoped he should before long obtain it," was his uniform language. || His disease daily became more alarming, but his carelessness continued. About ten days before he died, when I entered the room where he was confined, I found him apparently in the agony of death. Conscience had now commenced her fearful office, and terrors "as in an awful day," had taken possession of his soul. All was fear within, and horror, past imagination, was visible in his countenance. His room was truly a scene of horror. "Oh," he exclaimed, "once I might have been saved, but now it is too late. God says to me, because I have called, and you have refused, time, but he disregarded all I said to him; he did not even invite me to pray with him, as he always had done before. I spent an hour with him, but he evinced no disposition to hear prayer. I withdrew, and called again in an hour afterwards, but he evinced a resolution not to hear me pray for him. I then left him. A day or two afterwards, his senses failed him, reason was dethroned, and all means were useless to lead him to repentance. He languished seven or eight days, until, in his last struggle, reason evidently began to resume its empire; he started from his pillow in great terror, uttered a few dreadful groans, and expired. THE HOME MISSIONARY. VOL. V. Go,............PREACH the GOSPEL............Mark xvi. 15. SEPTEMBER 1, 1832. MONTHLY CONCERT. To all, in every place, who pray for the conversion of the world. BRETHREN, No. 5. FROM the midst of" the pestilence that walketh in darkness," we issue the present number of the "Home Missionary." Though the judgments with which the Almighty has been pleased in righteousness to afflict this guilty city, have been of late greatly mitigated, yet the plague still lingers. In the midst of life we are in death. And the destroyer is abroad in the land. Other cities and principal towns are now experiencing, to a fearful extent, his desolating power. The CHOLERA may be safely pronounced the most dreadful and the most dreaded scourge, in the form of pestilence, which has ever been brought upon this country. It has already numbered its thousands with the dead, and there is too much reason to fear, from the character and habits of the great majority of its victims, that, in many cases, HELL follows in its train. And who does not perceive that this wide-spreading calamity utters a voice of warning to the inhabitants of the land? Its note is loud as thunder to the intemperate, the voluptuous, and the dissolute; and written upon its front are the fearful words, "I WILL NOT SPARE, NEITHER PITY, NOR HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEM." Το the community who have slumbered over the prevalence of these evils, its language is, "Up! purify the land :—Be not partakers of other men's sins." And to the American churches it utters its voice. The very name of this scourge is strikingly significant of its occasion and design. It is called the ASIATIC Cholera; and this, in the providence of God, may have been intended to remind us of our long neglect, and of the feebleness of our present efforts, to send the Gospel to the destitute, and to extend the knowledge of the Saviour. Is it not because we have not done this, that He who sitteth as Governor among the nations, has called a plague out of the midst of a Heathen land, with which he is now afflicting the whole of Christendom? And who so guilty, in this respect, as the churches of the United States, so richly blessed with all spiritual bessings in Christ Jesus; so enlarged by revivals, and so elevated with the power of exerting an influence upon the whole world; and yet so slow of heart to believe and to engage with all their might in the work of the world's conversion. Surely, then, the judgments of the Lord, that are abroad in the earth, indicate topics enough of supplication. The CHOLERA alone, as it pursues its VOL. V. 9 fearful work of death and desolation, reads volumes of instruction to the churches. Let us pray that its notes of warning may be heeded by the wicked; that intemperance, voluptuousness, and dissipation; political strife and bribery, and all the sins that minister to these evils, may flee away, before the wasting of this pestilence shall leave the land utterly desolate. Let us pray that the church may awake to duty; that this scourge may not be permitted to embarrass the operations of our Benevolent Societies; and that all Christians may learn, in the light of this providence, rightly to estimate the value of earthly possessions; and that their contributions may thus be increased, and not diminished, to all objects of Christian benevolence. Let us pray, too, that lives devoted to the cause of God may be spared from the destruction of those arrows, that fly so fearfully among the wicked. And let us not forget the savage war that has for several months afflicted the north-western frontier of the United States; filled many settlements with dismay, and clad many families in mourning. This, too, is doubtless a scourge sent to remind us of national, as well as individual sins, which may well be the subjects of penitence and prayer, at the Monthly Concert. And let us not forget the larger convulsions, which now agitate the world, the "distress of nations, with perplexity, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which shall come on the earth." O Lord, let the counsels of the wicked be destroyed, and in all the nations let grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ, as long as the sun and moon shall endure." 66 [For some of the intelligence which may properly be presented at the Monthly Concert, we refer the reader to the correspondence which follows.] CORRESPONDENCE OF THE A. H. M. S. MISSOURI. From the Rev. G. C. Wood, St. Charles, Mo. The good work of the Lord, mentioned in my last letter, has continued to progress; and at this date, there is much that is interesting in the congregation. The Spirit of the Lord has not entirely left us. Some who have not yet got into the ark, are feeling that their situation is dangerous. At our last communion, fifteen were added to the church; fourteen on examination, and one by certificate. Since the commencement of the present revival, seventy have united with our church, and a number, I know not how many, have joined the Methodist church. Several, who have not yet made a public profession of religion, are rejoicing in hope. The Lord has called in his labourers here at every hour of the day, from the morning of life, the child of nine years of age, to the man of three score and ten: and at our last sacramental season, it was truly affecting to behold the old man, whose head was silvered with the frost of more than seventy winters, and the child of nine, stand up at the same time to covenant to be the Lord's. God has here manifested the sovereignty of his grace, in blessing some families in a most wonderful manner, while others have not been partakers at all. In one family, a lady, who was a widow, with all her children, nine in number, were subjects of this work. Two of her sons are now at Lane Seminary, Ohio, preparing, we trust, for future usefulness. It is an in |