to a point that could not be maintained. Rest, quiet, calm, were naturally required. This brought with it danger,-danger of this rest leading to spiritual indifference, and consequently to apostacy. Never were the exertions of Christian Ministers so much needed. I have made it my duty to visit, from house to house, and again and again to urge them to diligence. I have felt deeply, painfully, my responsi bility to God, and the Connexion. I am trying to keep up the prayer meetings, and class meetings, so as the more effectually to preserve the spirituality of the church. The great want in our community is profound sympathy with the social means of grace. I am glad to say our congregations are still promising. The wet, damp, cold weather has kept many of our people from the house of God, still the attendance is cheering. There is hope and confidence among our members, our numbers are no less, although we have had many removals; our prospects are good. We have unity and peace in the church. The There is an improvement in Ballyclare. We have had several conversions here. Last week Mr. Mills was preaching at Lake View, and he spoke personally to a woman about her soul, she cried for mercy-groaned for deliverance from sin, -fell as a penitent at the feet of Jesus. The other Sabbath, in the chapel, a penitent came forward to the communion trembling and seeking the Lord, found salvation and went away rejoicing. congregations are improving, and the church is becoming stronger. May God continue to smile on our cause there. Our cause in Bangor is suffering from bad trade, the people can hardly make a living,-think of females working from early morn till late at night, and cannot earn, on an average, more than fourpence a day; and sometimes an aged father and mother have to be supported; many of them cannot come to chapel for want of clothing. The season is very cold and inclement. Every society we have in this county is suffering painfully,-I never saw anything equal to the poverty I have witnessed on these stations. Notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, we have reason to be thankful. The congregations are good, and the classes are improving. We have had a few additional sittings let in the chapel, and what is still more encouraging there is increased earnestness in the religious services, and some have been awakened and led to seek and find salvation. Mr. Seymour is delivering a series of discourses, on Sabbath evenings, which are taking well. They are doing good. When the spring opens again, we have a very good prospect here. Union of exertion with a single eye to the glory of God, will secure prosperity. Newtownards, is in a state of great poverty-I cannot describe it, but oh! what cause for gratitude, and thanksgiving. Our congregations of late, are somewhat improved, several families have recently taken sittings with us, the spiritual condition of many of the members, at present, is of a very cheering character, the means of grace are truly wells of salvation. Mr. Chadwick, writes, "Last Sabbath day was one of more than usual spiritual refreshing-some said, 'it was the best Sabbath they had ever enjoyed.' We have proofs also, that sinners now and again feel the power of God's truth. A short time since, when preaching in the country, I was interrupted, in the midst of the sermon, by a woman crying for mercy-her cries were so loud and continued, that I was under the pleasing necessity of turning the service into a prayer meeting. A few Sabbaths ago, a middle aged female came to me at the close of the morning service, and said she had felt so powerfully under the sermon, that she could not leave the chapel without uniting with us in fellowship, and remaining to my class held after preaching-she has since found mercy and is going on her way rejoicing. These are so many tokens for good. Lisburn, during the last few weeks, has experienced a change for the better, souls have been converted and backsliders reclaimed. Our society has been reorganized. Class Meetings and Prayer Meetings are better attended, congregations are improving, we have peace in the church, leader and members, one and all, labouring with renewed vigor for the welfare of the church and the glory of God. Broomhedge is in a very healthy, prosperous condition,-congregations large, the society strong and vigorous. The meetings here are characterised by the simplicity and deep feeling of early Metho dism. God is amongst them. Of a truth, the people are mostly poor, of the humble labouring class, but they are full of Faith. Here is no show, no pomp, simple, pure christianity-working among holy devoted men, making homes happy-wives and children comfortable, and exerting an influence upon the whole neighbourhood. This appears to me to be like the early apostolic churches. B. TURNOCK. WILLIAMS AND CO.,, STEAM PRINTERS, 2, CHURCH LANE, LIVERPOOL. THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE. APRIL, 1862. Essays, &c., on Theology and General Literature. ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS TO GOD. THE Constitution of man is threefold. He has physical parts, mental faculties, and moral powers. His bodily, intellectual, and spiritual endowments have not been self-originated, but imparted. They are not of himself, but of God. He holds them by bestowment from the Giver of every good gift. They have been given to him as rays of light have been given to the sun, tints of beauty to the flowers, crowns of glory to the noble army of martyrs, and attributes of dignity to the glowing seraphim before the throne. He is under obligation, therefore, not to pervert them, but to improve them; not to misuse them, but rightly employ them. Having freely received them from God, he is bound to consecrate them to the service of God. If he refuse, or neglect to do this, he is dishonest towards the Great Master. Will a man rob God? If you do, the Judge of all will write "Thief" on your brow at the day of judgment, and shut you up for ever in the prison of hell. In dedicating your talents to God, you should be sincere, unhesitating, and entire. There should be no hypocrisy, no mental reservation, and no keeping back part of the price. The dedication should be complete. It should be made with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. It should be rendered as freely and fully as the holy angels and the blood-washed multitude render service to God and the Lamb in the heavenly temple. whole of your talents should be devoted at all times and everywhere to the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The What is the nature of entire devotedness to God? Entire devotedness to God is not monasticism. Separation from society, coarse garments, frequent fasts, bodily austerities, ghostly processions, solemn prayers, and mournful hymns, amidst the melancholy gloom of a monastery, instead of agreeing with the will of God, are antagonistic to it. Entire devotedness to God is not formalism. A serious aspect in public worship, a reverential attitude while the minister pleads with God, a fervent response at the conclusion of prayer, a devout demeanour during the reading of Holy Scripture, a tuneful M sound in singing praise, a careful attention to the Word preached, and a meditative observance of the Lord's Supper, amid the "dim religious light" of an ancient minster, or the brighter light of a modern sanctuary, instead of fulfilling all righteousness, stand very far short of it. Entire devotedness to God is the giving of our hearts to God, and the consecration of our talents to God. It is the giving of our hearts to God. The voice of God speaks to every one of us, saying, "My son, give me thy heart." Refusal to comply with this request is refusal to devote ourselves entirely to God. If we withhold our hearts from God, we withhold everything; for all else will be offensive to God. Our hearts are the sources of all acceptable and useful gifts and labours. Our hearts are the roots of trees that flourish in the garden of the Lord, and bear abundance of the fruits of grace. Our hearts are the fountains of streams that flow through the wilderness; making it bud and blossom as the rose, and produce the things which are lovely and of good report. To give our hearts is to give our affections. In giving our affections to God, we make him the object of our supreme love; and in loving God supremely, we feel constrained to serve him diligently all the days of our life. It is the consecration of our talents to God. Physical strength is a talent.-Good health and vigorous limbs are gifts from God. They are given, not to be wasted in idleness, but employed in works of usefulness. God makes us strong, not for show but for labour. He commands us to use our strength industriously at our avocation, in the fear of God; "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." He requires us to put forth our strength and be diligent in working out our own salvation and in doing good to others. There are many departments of useful effort in the Church and in the world, the duties of which cannot be efficiently discharged without robust bodily vigour. Long journeys have to be taken, exhausting walks have to be accomplished, rough roads have to be trodden, stormy weather has to be met, and hours have to be spent in arduous exertion amidst unwholesome air, in order to serve our generation according to the will of God. For these services the aged, the sickly, the infirm, and the feeble are incompetent. The young, the healthful, and the energetic, therefore, ought to perform them. The strong should never be slothful, and sit at ease in Zion; but up and do-work earnestly while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work. 66 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive strength." Let the Lamb have it. Mental ability is a talent. Some individuals have noble heads and regal minds. They cultivate their intellect diligently, and use their brain vigorously. But their faculties are frequently employed on earthly things, and seldom on spiritual things. Politics, jurisprudence, commerce, science, art and literature they study, explain, illustrate, and promote, with all their intellectual might; while the cause of God is thought of only occasionally, advocated hesitatingly, and assisted fitfully. Men of capacious intellect, high culture, and extensive information, apart from a few honourable exceptions, do little to subserve the prosperity of Zion. Many of them refuse to take office in the Church of Christ, and even evade its membership— decline to enter the fellowship of saints. An educated person re |