from the error of their ways, are various; and it were arrogance in us to say, that he is limited in his gracious influence, to any particular set of means, appearances, or instruments. We rejoice, as do the angels, at the repentance of one sinner, whoever or whatsoever may have been the means of his recovery from a state of condemnation and spiritual death. While one here, and another there, are brought home to God, under the gentle droppings of the sanctuary, we charge our souls not to "despise the day of small things;" yet, we do long, and will pray to see sinners flying to Jesus, "as clouds, and as doves to their windows."

However gently and silently some may be reduced to the obedience of faith, and enfolded in the arms of redeeming love; ordinarily, the translation of souls, from darkness to light, and from the bondage of iniquity to the glorious liberty of the sons of God, is attended with an awakening sense of sin, and with a change of temper and conduct, which cannot be easily concealed: and where considerable numbers become subjects of this change, at the same time, and in the same congregation, or neighbourhood, there is what we call a revival of religion. There we behold the stately steppings of Zion's king, the conquests of his grace-the trophies of his power-and the precious fruits of his travail of soul, when he sweat in Gethsemane, and died on Calvary, "the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."

Let revivals be tested by their fruits; and we doubt not that real Christians of every name will be constrained o hail them, as blessings from the Lord. Visit those favoured congregations, where the special outpouring of the Spirit, as we believe, is experienced, and you will find the happy subjects of hope in Christ, abounding in every good word and work,-earnest in prayer for a blessing on the ordinances of the gospel, and on all charitable exertions to diffuse the light and consolations of evangelical truth there you will see some of the most irreligious persons reclaimed from their evil courses, and licentious habits: there you will see whole households, in some instances, devoted to God in Christian baptism, their dwellings converted into bethels, and consecrated by daily prayer and praise: there you will hear the people say, one to another, "Come, let us go up to the house of God, and he will teach us of his way, and we will walk in his paths" there you will find many Andrews and Philips endeavouring, by friendly entreaties, by letters, by religious books and tracts, to bring other Peters and Nathaniels to the knowledge of Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life :" there you will see animosities among kindred and neighbours buried at the foot of the cross,-pride, envy, and evil surmisings giving place to concord and brotherly kindness: in a word, you will find more additions made to the communion of the church, of hopeful sub

jects of saving grace, in a few months, than had been made, in the same congregations, enjoying the same means of religious improvement, for many years.

It is a painful truth, indeed, which experience and observation oblige us to admit, that some persons, who are awakened on such occasions, are not converted in heart unto God; and, therefore, after appearing to run well, for a little season, they relapse into their old habits of negligence and sin. These are they whose "goodness is as the morning cloud, and the early dew, which passeth away" they seem to begin in the spirit, but end in the flesh these are the characters designated by the stony ground, in the parable of the sower: "but he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon, with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by, he is offended."

But such unhappy instances, while they admonish him that thinketh he standeth, to take heed lest he fall, furnish no solid objection to the work, as being, upon the whole, a work of God, for which he is greatly to be praised, in the assemblies of his

saints.

If these observations be just, then a revival of religion ought to be regarded by every Christian congregation, as one of the richest of heaven's blessings. The power of the Holy Ghost should be sought, by prayer and supplication, as the only effectual agency, in the recuscitation of souls that are dead in trespasses and sins. "Come from the four winds, O breath of the Lord, and breathe upon the slain, that they may live!"

"Thy ministers are sent in vain
To prophesy upon the slain;
In vain they call, in vain they cry,
Till thine Almighty aid is nigh.

"But if thy Spirit deign to breathe,

Life spreads through all the realms of death:
Dry bones obey thy powerful voice;

They move, they waken, they rejoice."

AN AWFUL FACT.*

Sir-I beg leave to state a fact, which took place some time ago. A young lady, the darling of her parents, and who was brought up in all the follies of fashion, till she was completely imbued with the spirit of the world, was suddenly taken ill.

This "awful fact" is taken from the Supplement to the Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, for 1820. The Editors say they are assured, by a respectable correspondent, that it is strictly true.

Great alarm was excited. No less than three physicians were called in to rescue this favourite child from death; but alas! all was in vain; their utmost efforts were ineffectual. All aghast at the attack of the fierce invader, an awful silence took place, interrupted only by the sobs of a fond mother, broken hearted and in despair. The physicians agreed in judgment that this young creature must die, and that she could survive the attack but a very short period. Judge what a scene of distress must ensue! See the father's heart agonized to distraction! But what she said before she died, must, if possible, increase the agony of both parents. She was informed that she must now fall a prey to death-that a few hours would terminate her existence upon earth! Judge how this gay young lady must herself feel. Collecting all her strength, she requested that her gay companions might be sent for. They were immediately sent for; and with great anxiety entered this mansion of misery. The dying young lady, on seeing her associates in folly, addressed them to the following effect "I am going to die! How awfully have we neglected God and religion, and mis-spent our invaluable time. With my dying breath I exhort you to repent before it is too late ;"" and then, in the presence of this company of fashionable young people, she thus addressed her own father-" You have been the unhappy instrument of my being-you fostered me in pride, and led me in the path of sin; you never once warned me of my danger:-now, now it is too late. In a few hours you will have to cover me with earth; but remember-while you are casting earth upon my body, my soul will be in hell! and yourselves the miserable cause!"-Here she paused, and presently closed her eyes in death!

What think you of this fact? Are you a parent? What must these parents feel on hearing this charge, these accusations of their own child in her dying moments? Would not the chamber become to them a scene of indescribable distress ?-Would not the mother bedew her dying pillow with her tears, and try to bring back the departing spirit by her frantic shrieks? Ah! what a scene was this! How petrifying to the feelings of a humane heart!

Parents, can you contemplate this scene without feelings of the deepest melancholy? Oh, had she been your daughter! In these last complicated agonies, no comforter at hand-no messenger of peace who should say, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." Alas! all was silence.

Young people, had you witnessed this scene, what impression would it have made on you? Would you have resolved to renounce the world, to read the Scriptures, to believe in Christ, to walk with God? By his grace go and do so now: for "now, and now only is the accepted time."

ANECDOTE-REMARKABLE PRESERVATION.

Translated from the German.

Near Spin, in Norway, five persons experienced the following remarkable preservation of their lives on Easter Monday, 1817. A father, and his two grown children, a son and a daughter, returned home in company with several other persons from their church, which lay at some distance from their dwelling-place. The children took a bye road, which was a shorter route, but led them across a water that was still covered with ice. An aged person, who had been a servant to the father for many years, soon grew uneasy about the children, and exhorted them to be on the look out after them. They then struck into the bye road together, and found, to their consternation, that the children had broke into the ice, but at some distance from each other, and in such a situation, that by holding to each other's arm, they kept themselves above water. Without delay or consideration the father ventured upon the ice, in order to come to the assistance of his son, who was nearest to him. It required but ten paces more to reach him, when he likewise broke in. In this dreadful situation, these three persons saw nothing but certain death staring them in the face; for every attempt to extricate themselves proved abortive-the ice continually breaking under them, and every time the breach grew wider. At this critical juncture, a man came to the spot, who was united to the father not only by the bonds of social friendship, but also of brotherly love. With a stick in his hand, he ventured upon the same danger; but he fared nearly in the same manner as his predecessors had done; yet while falling, he threw himself sideways on the ice, where it was something stronger, and creeping on his hands and feet, he again reached the shore in safety. In the same posture, the above-mentioned aged person entered upon the same unsafe path, fervently imploring the assistance of the Lord, in order, if possible, to rescue the daughter; and what she had prayed and hoped for, and what she believed, in that she succeeded. But still the father and the son were left. After many fruitless attempts, the former at last succeeded in working himself upon the ice; but, unmindful of his further escape, he, while crawling on his belly and praying to God, approached his helpless son. Being sufficiently near, he reached a stick out to him, by the help of which the son, though already greatly exhausted, likewise got out of the water. In this posture of their bodies, with the necessary precautions, they then retraced their way, and got safe to land. Each individual rejoiced exceedingly to see themselves, and the other four, saved from death and danger; and when, several weeks after, the father related the circumstance to the writer, tears of the warmest gratitude to his Almighty Preserver, ran down his cheeks.*

Extracted from the diary of brother Hans Peter Bau, in Knifsland, parish of Wandsoe, on the peninsula Lyster.

VOL. VII.

4 X

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

Sir-The recent union of Christians of all denominations, for the support of a monthly meeting of prayer at the Mariners' Church, with the express design of interceding at the Throne of Grace, for an effusion of the Holy Spirit on our city, must be regarded as the harbinger of good. With the spirit of united prayer for such an object, sectarian animosity must be forgotten, and the mind of every true believer be drawn forth in the contemplation of an event so desirable as a general revival of religion. The professed people of God have long been too much disposed to excuse their neglect of active exertion and fervent prayer, by saying, with the Israelites of old, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. But the reality of such occurrences as special outpourings of the Spirit, has become so manifest of late as to dispel, in a great measure, this delusion, and to give efficacy to prayer, by seasoning it with faith.:

In this state of feeling, it is presumed that many of your readers would peruse with, interest and profit, the following extract from the writings of a deceased divine, containing observations on the

IMPORTANCE OF A REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN THE CITY OF NEWYORK.

A reformation extending to every house in this city, would be the noblest sight the lover of humanity ever saw. Its indications would be strong and decisive. The reign of vice, which now regards no limit, but throws its malign influence within every enclosure, would on all sides be curtailed. The horrid clang of profaneness, the bloated features of dissipation, the haggard spectacle of prostitution, the inanity of vicious idleness, the menace of unbridled passion, deliberate revenge, curtained behind human features, and heard remote, sometimes like thunder in the bosom of darkness;-in fine, the conflicts of interest, the wiles of dishonesty, the deep-laid snares of covetousness, which now, at every step, arrest your attention, if not endanger your repose, would suddenly disappear.

What if there were even a temporary suspension of business, a circumstance I have known to attend the progress of such a work? Would that be any evidence against it? Is this world of darkness and sin so vastly important that nothing for a moment must ever interrupt man's complete and universal servitude to its toils and cares, till he plunges into eternity? Must a man be the subject of sarcasm and contempt, because in the first hours of his solicitude to secure eternal felicity, in the first days of his espousal to the adorable Redeemer, he has neglected worldly pursuits? Alas! those that bring this objection, I fear, have never been informed that "the love of money is the root of all evil;" have never considered, that "it is easier for a camel to