state of mind, when a free and full salvation through the blood of Christ was proclaimed from night to night, it was natural that peace, and upon the most solid of all foundations, should be found as quickly as conviction had been felt. At the same time it is right to mention that there is scarcely one of all these individuals who had not often been convicted before, and often brought almost to accept the gospel, but whose convictions and purposes evaporated amid the returning earthliness and evil influences which the subsequent week ever brought round. These were no doubt preparations for the gospel of peace. And the special advantage of such continuous meetings, as brought out in the experience of such persons, is this, that the claims of God, and their souls, and eternity, are kept without interruption before the mind, till there is something like a fair consideration given to them. It is impossible to offer even a conjecture as as the numbers, to appearance, savingly impressed during the three weeks the meetings continued. On the last night sixteen persons openly professed their faith in Jesus, and were admitted into the communion of the church. It was a night to be remembered. The solemnity of their appearance, and of the occasion altogether, will never will be forgotten. But besides these, there were many others (some of them greatly more striking) who had been in communion before; and others belonging to other denominations altogether. Others again were never heard of till long after. Some are but beginning to be known at present. And it will be but according to the experience of similar movements previously if the seed deposited in that precious spring-time shall not bring forth the fruits of harvest till years after this. It is to be lamented that some few have lost the impressions which they felt at that season. These, however, are but few in number, and they are not such as we had ever any confidence in. The great majority are holding steadily on their way, exhibiting in their daily walk and conversation evidence of a real spiritual change. And, generally speaking, the kind of religion manifested among them-as might have been expected, indeed, from the calmness of the meetings, and from the consciences of the impressed being allowed to act undisturbed, and unhurried by senseless interference, on the great truths submitted from night to night-is of that steady, solid, substantial nature which gives good promise of continuance. It may be added, that of ten persons admitted to communion since, eight of them seem to have owed their first saving impressions to these meetings, either directly from what was seen and heard there, or indirectly from the conversations or the visible change of those who were. We believe it may be also said that the above period was a season of great refreshment to all the Christians among us who attended. It was remarked by a calm quiet Christian who knows the people well, that many of the children of God who could not attend seemed to be sensibly refreshed even in their own dwellings. She that tarried at home divided the spoil' It may be mentioned in general that the attendance in church has steadily increased within the year. The stations at Wolflee and Ancrum are now regularly served, in consequence of which some fifty or sixty who used to worship with us cease to do

But their places seemed to be filled with others; as at no period since the disruption has the church been so completely filled. In the ordinary means of grace, too, the God of ordinances has not withdrawn his blessed presence. The body of Christ seems to be not a little edified. While, after all the work of His hand among us,' which we feel it to be our duty openly to acknowledge, and gratefully and humbly rejoice in, there are still too many amongst us in whom no signs of grace are apparent, and over whom we desire to travail in birth till Christ be formed in every one of them. For knowing nothing of God's secret will, knowing only that His revealed will-our only rule of action-is, that all should come to repentance,' we feel, as those whom the Lord hath set over his Church, that lawfully there can be no term to our desires, and hopes, and prayers, and Christian efforts, so long as one sinner stands out against the overtures of grace, or any Christian, though saved, is walking, in any way unworthy of his high vocation.

6

"In the name and by the authority of the kirk-session,

"JOHN PURVES, Moderator." From some American newspapers we glean the following pieces of similar information.

"REVIVALS IN THE SOUTH.-Among the many inducements for Christians to continue their prayers for a general outpouring of the Spirit of God, is the fact that at this time churches in different parts of the land are blessed by his presence. Christians are awakening from their long slumber, and are revived and cheered by the sight of anxious sinners seeking the way to Zion. Would that such cases were multiplied a thousand-fold! We give a few instances of revivals in the Southern States, as reported by the colporteurs of the American Tract Society:

"Rev. Milton Cain, in North Carolina, writes, "A work of grace is evidently begun in this region. I have attended several meetings where the Lord was pouring out his Spirit in a wonderful manner, and where many were crying for mercy. Several hundreds have been hopefully converted to God in the counties that I have visited, and in the counties adjoining. Christians are actively engaged in efforts for the salvation of souls. Different denominations are holding a series of meetings, and the Lord smiles upon their efforts.'

"Mr William Campbell, a colporteur in South Carolina, writes, 'In consequence of the many meetings in progress on my field, I have not been able to visit as many families as I otherwise should. I rejoice to see the work of the Lord prospering in the midst of us. There have been large additions to the church. Some families whom I visited informed me that they had never thought seriously upon the subject of religion; but the words I had spoken to them, and the religious exercises held in their families, had made a deep impression, and numbers of them are now rejoicing with the people of God.'

"Mr Amos Hitchcock, in Tennessee, writes, 'A Baptist preacher wished me to select some of our publications that would be suitable for a library in a Sabbath school just commenced in his neighbourhood, which I did. In visiting the neighbourhood again, I found the people much interested in the books. Some who were well acquainted with the place, told me that they had no doubt that there had been more reading of religious books since I was there, than there had been for five years previous. I have since heard that there is a revival in progress in that place, and about twenty have been hopefully converted.'

"There has been for some time past a powerful revival of religion in a neighbourhood where I circulated many works last spring, and where there was much anxiety to get the books. A large number have been gathered into the church.'

"Rev. Robert Dodson, who has been engaged as a colporteur in Alabama, writes, 'The strongest evidence that I have that my visits have not been without profit is, that in the settlements where the books have been distributed, there have been great revivals of religion. I am more convinced than ever that God will bless the united efforts of Christians. There has been a meeting near Tuscaloosa that lasted seven days, in which all the evangelical denominations were united, and never have I seen such an outpouring of the Spirit of God. Ministers of the different denominations preached in turn, and all seemed to have but one object, the salvation of the souls of men. A large number professed to have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write.

"I have spent two of the last three months in almost continual labour, preaching day and night, praying and conversing with anxious sinners. There is now another meeting in progress in the city of Tuscaloosa, that has lasted twenty-one days. Already more than 200 have professed a hope in Christ. There is scarcely anything talked of in the streets of Tuscaloosa but religion.

"In the northern part of Tuscaloosa county, at one of the churches which is under my care, there has been a great revival, and many souls, as we trust, have been converted to God. A similar work is still going on in many places.'

"LEAVES FROM A JOURNAL IN TIME OF REVIVAL.-Yesterday I addressed attentive audiences with much feeling on my own mind, and more than usual, I trust, on my hearers. The Lord gave me much fervour in secret prayer, great desire for the descent of the Spirit, and unusual ease and energy in all the exercises. To-night, at our stated season, we have commenced praying for a noted infidel and opposer of all that is good. From my mind's being drawn so unto him, I cannot

but hope God wills to make him a trophy of grace, and a preacher of righteousness where he has been a preacher of infidelity.

"Before retiring last night, the Lord favoured me with such unprecedented earnestness and faith in prayer, that I cannot but here raise a grateful Ebenezer. While kneeling at the close of the evening, I felt myself unusually drawn out for humility, contrition, brokenness of heart, resignation to God's will, and personal sanctification. Then I was drawn out for a revival at with an intensity of desire the like of which I never knew. My soul was in an agony for sinners. I yearned over them with strong crying and tears,' until I travailed in birth for them, and blessed God that souls were saved. My body was greatly affected, perspiration poured out like water, my eyes shed copious, gushing tears. There was an inward conviction that God was with me, that the Spirit taught me to pray; and he made intercessions for me with groanings which could not be uttered. I knew not how to leave off either praying or praising God for the assurance he gave me that the Holy Ghost was coming with power and great glory. These exercises continued until after midnight, with such strong faith in God's promises, and such an apparent insight into that which was to come, that I longed to go and tell to friends how great things the Lord was upon the eve of doing for this people. I felt relieved of the burden that had oppressed me, that it was rolled off upon my Saviour, and that he would take care of his own cause. Then I was overwhelmed that God should so visit a worm, and make me thus to pant after holiness and the birth of souls. After lying down, and until I fell asleep, I could not help speaking out praise to God; and at the moment of waking this morning, I found myself thanking God for the work he is going to do here, and praying again that it might go on with power and great glory. Since breakfast, I have enjoyed an hour's earnest prayer in the consecrated place by my bed-side, and have felt my faith renewed, and desires confirmed; and now, at this sober hour of noon, how can I be otherwise than sure that many souls will here be born again.

"Wednesday night.-Blessed be God for the clear evidence that I am in the midst of the Holy Spirit's own operations. The nearer I came, the more my heart felt to pray for this people, and no sooner had I got to the kind family in which I am now entertained, than the joyful news was brought of one and another's conversion to God. Brother and I could not help retiring to a chamber to pour out our hearts together in praise and prayer. His wife had just returned from the female prayer-meeting, where women that had not spoken together for months, and between whom there were almost daily feuds, (as in villages long unvisited by the Holy Spirit there will be), shook each other's hands with cordiality and joy. One of the circle, whose voice is now heard for the first time in the simple pleadings of prayer, has been well-nigh overwhelmed with the burden of sin. She was deeply impressed by a sermon on death, and Saturday night, with a bursting heart, she entreated to pray for her, a miserable sinner. Monday evening, at a hastily gathered meeting, when it began to be plain to the church that the fire was taking here and there, she felt as if she could hardly go home without beginning a revival by her submission to the Saviour. Tuesday morning, while alone in her chamber, after she had been shut up in darkness like midnight, she emerged into spiritual light and found her Saviour. Just now, a gay, proud, laughter-loving woman, she is all at once, as it were, an ardent, happy Christian, her countenance and whole aspect surprisingly changed, her face set like a flint toward Zion, and making one think of Christiana and her babes at their setting out on pilgrimage.

"There is a neighbour of her's who gives evidence equally convincing of a precious and thorough work of grace. All unknown to any one, she has been very anxious for the space of eight weeks, feeling continually burdened by reason of sin. She first felt willing to submit and give up all to God at the solemn meeting of last Monday evening. Going home so heavy laden that she could scarcely live, she awoke often in the night and besought God to forgive her and send relief. With the morning there came a placid, joyful change, and she could not but tell of it to her husband, himself not a Christian, who had been greatly distressed at what

seemed the settled melancholy of his wife. Now she appears a calm, subdued, genuine Christian.

"Both of these seem to be actuated by a strong desire to do good, and to see the work of God advancing, and others born again. The experience of one of them has been very remarkable in her feeling anxious for souls here a long time before her own conversion, and impelled with desire to be herself a Christian, in order that she might pray for others, and impressed with a sense that it lay upon her to begin a revival by giving her own heart to God, and leading the way for others.

"Friday night. What I am persuaded I shall regard as one of the most memorable days in the history of this church, and of my own life, is closed; and though weary, and the hour is late, it must not pass unnoticed here. The same oppression which I laboured under and felt so deeply last night, every Christian shared, and all unknown to the other, each was under a cloud, oppressed, shut up, and fearful, dimly sensible of some great obstacle in the Spirit's way. The night was a dark night; the morning a heavy morning. I poured out my soul long and earnestly for the salvation of souls, and for wisdom to win them to Christ, and then went out to call upon a family where two of its members were under deep anxiety for their souls, and one of them a backslidden Christian. Unwonted help was had in conversation with each personally, and prayer. Calling on my return at - I met there a few brethren who had gathered informally to interchange their feelings, and pray, and consider what it might be that was impeding the work of conversion, for we knew not that any had taken place since the first day of the week, and feared that the little church had relaxed in prayerfulness, overjoyed and elated as they were at what God had wrought. The happy, holy countenance, fervent zeal and strong faith of one of the converts that happened in, having just been visiting among the people, breathed new hope and spirit into grey-haired men, and they separated after a happy season of prayer for a blessing upon the appointed meeting of the afternoon. The time came, and as I was going to the place appointed, Brother

came up solemn as death, and dark as a thunder-cloud. He caught my hand, and with the peculiar expression of his eye, and the solemnity of a man speaking out of the grave, he said, 'Never in my life did I spend such a night; never did I know such a morning. It seems as if all my friends were dead and I were going to their funeral.' Then he went into meeting and offered a most remarkable prayer, and being requested, addressed the brethren in language that brought tears to all our eyes, and which was finally broken off by his own bursting emotions of desire for souls, with the works,' O, brethren, do pray for them, do pray for them!' "Brother next arose, and declared his experience of the night and the day, how he was oppressed with a yearning for souls that he had to leave his work to go and pray for them, and he felt every moment like pouring ont crying and tears unto God in their behalf. His voice faltered, and as he was saying that he felt as if he ought himself to go, stammerer as he was, and be a preacher among this people, his emotions became too strong for utterance or restraint, and a strong labouring man as he is, he sat down completely mastered by the rush of feeling. I believe there was not a dry eye in the little assembly of saints. Others followed in the most artless remarks and earnest prayers I ever heard, and all testified to their experience of a strange gloom the night before, and their earnest travail for souls since. One remarked that he believed the extremity of Satan had come, and where Satan's seat had been should be his downfall. We broke up after being three hours together in a most happy state of mutual love, and assurance that the cloud was taken up, and that the ark of God would go forward."

In the same American paper we meet with the following article, to which the attention of the Free Church may well be called.

"CONCERT OF PRAYER FOR COLLEGES.-This interesting annual concert occurs today. And among all the assemblings for united prayer and supplication to God, none surpass this in importance, or embrace objects for which the Christian might better pour out his full heart. The conversion of the many hundreds of young men in the various colleges and seminaries of learning in our land, is an object so devoutly to be desired, that a monthly, rather than an annual, concert on their behalf, might

well seem appropriate. These youths are the hope of our country. Their character and future usefulness fill a large place in the eye of parental affection, and in the expectation of numerous relatives and friends who are all looking forward with fond and anxious solicitude to their entrance on public life. When they shall go to stand in the ranks of active business and professional life, they will carry with them a tide of influence, for good or evil, which the mind of an angel cannot measure. By their views and opinions countless thousands are to be swayed and affected in their dearest interest for this world and the next. They will fill stations of influence in the pulpit, at the bar, on the bench of justice, and in the halls of legislation. In whatever stations they are to move, it is of vast importance that their talents, and learning, and influence, should all be consecrated to the service of Him who made them, and to the highest good of their fellow-men.

"No hyperbole could present this subject in too strong a light. The destiny of this bright constellation of minds will soon be determined, and their character fixed. If, by the grace and the Spirit of God, they are converted during their brief college probation, they will shine in spheres of usefulness on earth, and shine like brilliant stars in the firmament of heaven for ever. The reverse of this is painful to think of. It is a most affecting truth that comparatively few are ever converted after they leave college. The pride of intellect and learning-ambition or professional advancement and distinction, seems to close the door of hope, or shut out that calm and serious reflection so indispensable to a radical change of character.

"We most earnestly hope that the character and condition of the multitude of youth will draw out the hearts of Christians in earnest prayer on their behalf. They are away from the eye of parental watchfulness, and exposed to the peculiar temptations of college life. Many and earnest prayers, we doubt not, proceed from the parental closet and fire-side; but many of them are not blessed with pious parents, and therefore need the prayers of Christians. Revivals are invaluable blessings on any community; but how much more so in a community of youthful minds in college! During a revival, when we were in college, at New-Haven, a clergyman, eminent for talents and statistical information, stated, that one revival which occurred when Dr Dwight was president, had resulted under God in the hopeful conversion of more than fifty thousand souls. These blessed results are still widening like expanding circles on the water. These annual concerts of prayer have been greatly owned of God and blessed. And we trust that this year, while God's people are praying, he will hear and pour out his Spirit on all the colleges and seminaries of our land."

EVANGELICAL DEPUTATIONS. Several of the most devoted ministers of our Church are to spend some of these summer months in evangelizing through Scotland. May the Spirit of the Lord go forth with them! May the hearts and voices of God's believing ones throughout the land go up to Jehovah on their behalf, that showers, such as neither we nor our fathers have known, may descend on the "dry and parched ground."