persons to whom they were addressed, was not to be expected, and that the man who did not sometimes doubt his interest in Christ, had, therefore, reason to doubt. This led him at once to suppose that Christian experience was something of which he was still ignorant; a system of exercises better than the faith and penitence which he had felt, deeper in the soul, and more sublimated than so young a convert could be supposed to possess. As a consequence, distrust pervaded his feelings. When he read the full and unequivocal declarations of God's willingness to pardon, he interpreted them with a reserve imbibed from his new instructors. Thus unbelief gradually took the place of faith; his closet, though still his chosen resort, was no longer illumined with the rays of his Saviour's countenance. As the cloud stole over his soul, the energy of love which had hitherto animated his efforts to save others, passed away; and although he still prayed,-still clung with desperate tenacity to the word of promise,-and still laboured to warn sinners to flee to Christ, it was with the air of a discouraged man. The sinews of his strength had been cut by the untimely remark of the old professor, and for years afterwards, in his best times, he seldom knew the joys of faith and conscious pardon. How long this happy convert might have gone on, but for the event which is now to be related, we know not. But his joys were suddenly blasted, and his usefulness suspended, by the following occurrence. A venerable professor of religion, to whom all the Church were accustomed to look up, one day inquired into the state of his mind, and on receiving an ingenuous account of what the Lord had done for him, instead of joining in his language of praise, said to him, with an oracular But patience worketh experience," tone and manner, Ah, young man, and at length the Spirit of God led you will not go long at that rate; L. C., by his own invisible ways, out you'll soon get over your first love, of the house of bondage, rich in the and then will come the days of dark- knowledge of himself He now reness. A sudden chill overspread the joices again, though with a more chassoul of L. C. "Can it be possible," tened joy, because the natural fire of said he to himself, "that I can ever youth has abated. But O how he cease to love my Saviour,or that he will looks back on the long period of inever be less gracious to my soul than terrupted usefulness which succeeded he is now!" He went home, and took the earlier months of his Christian up his Bible, to see if he had mistaken life! And when he speaks of young his ground, if the hope which he had converts in their happy, first love, he cherished were only a fond delusion, exclaims with energy, " Do not frightwhich time would dissipate. The en them from Christ. I admit, as a promises looked just as plain as ever,- matter of fact, that multitudes do dehe could see no less to admire in the cline and sink into darkness and ineffiSaviour, and no abatement in the claims ciency, but oh, it is needless-they of dying men on his efforts to save need not lose their first love. God does them. But the prophecy of the old not delight in their doubts-they may man rung in his ears. He asked others be always happy. Do not teach them about it, and received for answer, that that declension and gloom are the evitheir experience was made up of doubts dences of piety, and that they must and fears, that uninterrupted sunshine || expect, as a necessary part of Christian character, to occasionally distrust Christ-and perhaps they may escape the fowler's snare, and their path be like that of the just-shining more and more unto the perfect day." CONVERSION OF REV. ELIAS CORNELIUS. appeared on his countenance, till his deliverance. He lost flesh rapidly, and the effect of this external change was irresistible upon the most thoughtless of our class. And it was a remarkable fact that our very large and respectable class, then in their senior year, became The following account of the commencement of immediately and generally impressed that spiritual life which has been the means of so much blessing to the world, is from the life of Cornelius, by B. B. Edwards, just published. with a sense of their own accountability which I have no doubt arose through the instrumentality of the marvellous alteration of our gay friend, Cornelius. "When the little college church awoke from its guilty slumbers, and as the result, the effusion of the Holy Spirit was "In the month of March, about six earnestly sought and confidently expector seven weeks after the commenceed, I well remember, that we selected Cornelius as likely to become a leading ment of his religious impressions, he found peace in submission to Christ. opposer of the work of God, and on 'One day,' remarks a fellow student, that account, perhaps, he was made he knocked at my door. On opening the subject of special prayer. A revival commenced, and to our inexpressi-it, his countenance told me that the The storm had ble joy, he, if not the first, was one of contest was over. the first awakened. His convictions passed away. It was as the 'clear were unusually deep and painful. Of shining after rain.' He requested me the character of God, as a holy, right- to walk with him. We were silent eous, and sovereign being, of the purity until we had proceeded some distance of his law, and the extent of his require- from college. My own emotions were ments, of the entire depravity of his such that I had no disposition to speak. own heart, and the sinfulness of his He was musing, and the fire burned. When we had come to a retired place, past life, he had very clear perceptions. Of the truth of the declaration, the unable longer to restrain his feelings, carnal mind is enmity against God,' he he raised his hands, and exclaimed, O had the most distressing proof in his sweet submission, sweet submission!' own experience. He saw that he was This expression he repeated many in the hands of God, who was reason- times during our walk. That he was able in his demands, and would be just in the hands of God, was his theme, in condemning the sinner. But his and the rejoicing of his heart. He heart rose at times in fearful rebellion expressed no hope of pardon. He against his maker. Like the bullock appeared not to think of himself. The unaccustomed to the yoke,' he strug-glorious Being, to whose character, gled and seemed determined not to submit; and I trembled lest the Spirit, thus resisted, would let him alone.' The anguish of his soul was almost insupportable. I perfectly recollect his making his first entrance into the Moral Library, of which I was librarian, and drawing the Memoir of Susanna Anthony. The reason of my being struck with this occurrence was, that although Mr. Cornelius was never considered as a vicious or abandoned member of our class, yet he always appeared so full of vivacity, gaiety, and even thoughtlessness, his very solemn manner, and his inquiry for such a book, could not escape the observation of any one who had known him previously. From this time I do not believe a smile law, and government, he had felt so much opposition, seemed to occupy the whole field of vision, and to fill his soul with inexpressible delight. Soon he spoke of the plan of salvation through the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. It was unfolded in its glory, and excited his most grateful admiration. He saw how God could be just, and justify him that believeth in Jesus.' Believing, he rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.' Pressed with a sense of his obligations to redeeming grace, his fervent aspiration seemed to be, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The love of Christ, shed abroad in his heart, immediately manifested itself in vigorous, self-denying efforts for the salvation of his fellow-men.'' A VOICE FROM A FAR COUNTRY, ADDRESSED TO CHRISTIANS ASSEMBLED AT THE [The following remarks, addressed to those who pray for the conversion of the world, are from Rev. George B. Whiting, of the Palestine Mission. Being on heathen ground, and witnessing with his own eyes the operation of false religion in its work of destroying souls, he speaks from experience, and from deep feeling, on the necessity of Divine influence.] THE subject to which your attention, respected friends, is now invited, is the need of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at our missionary stations. This is a subject of which, I rejoice to know, you are not unmindful. It is most consoling to the heart of the missionary, to reflect that this unspeakable gift is implored for him at the monthly prayer meeting always, and by very many of his beloved brethren and sisters daily. Still, it may not be improper to suggest, by way of remembrance, a few considerations showing its importance. 1. The effusion of the Spirit upon missionaries themselves, is necessary. The first missionaries ever commissioned to preach the Gospel, needed the special unction of the Holy Spirit. It was not enough that they were pious and faithful men, and had been trained under the personal instruction of Christ himself. They were not yet duly qualified, nor allowed to leave the holy city. "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem," said their Divine Master, "until ye be endued with power from on high." What this power was, is afterwards explained to them. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."—" Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." All The influence of the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles, not merely to convey the power of speaking foreign languages, and of working miracles; it was given to sanctify them-to infuse new life and vigour into their character as Christians to give fervour and boldness to their preaching, and enable them to speak with power to the hearts and consciences of men. Modern missionaries, engaging in the same sacred employment, need the same qualification: they need the life-giving, sanctifying power of the same Divine Spirit. Christians, it is true, need this heavenly influence. But do not those especially need it, who stand as the representatives of Christianity among Pagans, Jews, Mussulmans, or corrupt Christian nations; and from whose lives, no less than from their preaching, men will derive their ideas of Christ and his religion? What was it, think you, but a large measure of Divine influence, such a measure VOL. VI. 22 as is expressed by being baptized with the Holy Ghost, that made David Brainerd what he was? What else can make any missionary what he ought to be? Suppose that some one missionary, with whom you have been acquainted, should now be so happy as to receive such an unction from on high; that the Holy Spirit, with all his quickening powers, should come into his heart, and “abide with him for ever." What a transformation will take place in that man! What a heavenly spirit will now pervade his sermons, his prayers, his conversation, his letters,—what a blessing he will be to his associates, and to the whole community in which he lives! What a blessing to the world is the life and the prayers of one missionary, such as Brainerd was! But suppose that instead of an individual, each member of the mission with which your friend is connected, should receive this precious baptism of the Spirit. What a happy little community it will make them! How the hearts of all will glow with love, and how cheerfully and entirely will they give themselves to their work. Peace, joy, love, and all those blessed fruits of the Spirit, will abound; each favoured brother and sister will be quickened by the example and the prayers of each, while their combined influence upon the people around them will be incalculably and eternally happy. But, brethren, your thoughts will not stop at one company of missionaries. You will instantly recollect that there are hundreds of such companies in various parts of the world; and as your thoughts travel from station to station, and from land to land, the importance of the subject, will rise in your view, and you will, with increasing earnestness, implore for your missionary brethren and sisters the plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit. It should be remembered, too, that missionaries have not only to make known the Gospel, and endeavour to win souls to the Saviour: they have also, to a very important extent, to mould the intellectual and the religious character of the nations in which they live. They are to found the schools and colleges, and make the books of those nations, as well as to set up the standard of piety among them. Is it not important that the men to whom these responsible trusts are committed, should be men of much spirituality and prayer? 2. The Holy Spirit is needed on account of the native converts at our missionary stations. At most of these stations, Christian Churches have been gathered, embracing a greater or less number of converts from heathenism. The mission Churches connected with the American Board of Foreign Missions, contain not far from two thousand native members. Those connected with other Missionary Societies in Europe and America, contain probably more than forty thousand. Besides these, many profess themselves Christians, and give some evidence of piety, who have not, as yet, been received as Church members. That it is important, for every individual in this large number of professed disciples of Christ, to lead a holy and blameless life, and that the aid of the Holy Spirit alone can enable them to do so, you need not be told. But, brethren, you do not know how difficult it is for a convert from heathenism, or from popery, to lead such a life, in a heathen or a papal community. Could you see the dangers and temptations by which these lambs of the flock of Christ are surrounded; the powerful influences that oppose them at every step; the scorn, the malice, the various persecutions which their attachment to the Gospel brings upon them, you would not wonder that apostacies sometimes occur among them. You would wonder that they are not more frequent; and would praise God that any continue steadfast and are saved. If actually called to exchange our condition for theirs, should we not earnestly beseech our brethren in all the Churches to pray for us? And yet are they not often forgotten in your prayers? But it is not enough that they be preserved from apostacy and from scandalous sins: their piety ought to be of a very fervent and decided character. These young disciples are "lights," set up in the dark places of the earth. It is not enough that they do not go out: they ought to "shine" with a pure, steady, growing brightness. They are the missionary's "epistles of commendation," which are to make him known, and give him influence among the people. It is not enough that they are free from disgraceful blots and errors; they ought to be written in bright and living characters, that all men may know and read in them the truth and purity of the Gospel. The converts are the missionary's most efficient helpers. Some of them are regular preachers of the Gospel; some are elders or deacons; a large number are schoolmasters; others are employed in translating the Scriptures and other books into their native languages. They of course know the language, the character, and prejudices of their people, far better than the missionary does, and can speak of Christ and salvation in places to which the missionary can have no access. Is it not important that all these persons should continually enjoy the reviving presence of the Holy Spirit-that they should serve Christ with the whole heart, and do every thing that a life of godliness and prayer can do for the salvation of their fellow men? 3. The outpouring of the Spirit is needed, because it is his influence alone that can effect the great object of all our missions-the conversion of the world to God. In this age of benevolent action, one of the great practical errors of Christians, is a propensity to magnify the importance of means, and to undervalue the agency of the Spirit. We look at the grand missionary operations of the last twenty years—we see hundreds of Christian labourers at work in different parts of the great vineyard of the Lord; the Bible translated into one hundred and fifty languages; printing presses multiplying copies of the sacred volume, and of various Christian books and tracts; schools established, in which myriads of heathen pupils receive Christian instruction; Sabbath Schools in many heathen villages; spacious houses of worship, and crowded assemblies hearing from the lips of our missionaries the words of eternal life; loud calls for tracts and Bibles; the door of access opening wide in countries hitherto barred against missionaries; we look at these things, and are almost ready to think the conversion of the world is well nigh accomplished. We almost forget that all these means and efforts, though used with our utmost zeal and perseverance, are, in themselves, perfectly powerless; and that until some mightier agency is put forth, not a soul will be converted. The truth is, the most perfect human instrumen tality, is, of itself, as inadequate to the work of conversion, as it is to cause a |