and therefore remembered with respect and esteem, while all of the latter description have been evanescent, if not disgusting. It was early in our fourth year of travelling, and a few months after our appointment to the circuit, that we accomplished a long intended call at the house of one of our Leaders. He was not himself within, but we were introduced to Mrs. -, and quickly

found ourselves in the presence of "a Mother in Israel." Kind without compliment, she breathed an atmosphere of devout piety, and godly zeal. The spiritual state of the society was not, at that time, particularly prosperous; but she was one of those whom the prophet sets forth, under the happy figure of "a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (Jer. xvii. 8.)

It would have been in vain for the most superficial talker to have endeavoured to lead this holy woman into the barren domain of news, or other impertinencies. Neither was it ever a failing of ours to assail the ear of reverend piety especially, with the unwelcome harshness of loquacious trifling.*

How characteristic the scene drawn by Bunyan, between “FAITHFUL" and " TALKATIVE:"—

"Well then, said Faithful, what is that one thing that we shall at

Of late we have become increasingly averse to unbend (as it is called) even among brethren, and equals. The eyes of the young are also ever open; and, if as yet indifferent to religion, they are early, and acute, judges of consistency.

The tendency of the human heart is often the inverse of truth and wisdom. The more juvenile the pastor, in general the less disposed to be schooled into those innumerable exactitudes, which are seldom learned except by sitting at the feet of our elders; who are, sometimes, as free as they are observant. An unlettered critic, too, may be quite as likely to hit the mark, as one of greater refinement, and will be less restrained by considerations of taste and delicacy. "He that refuseth reproof erreth: " (Prov. x. 17.) and it is sinful pride that would take umbrage at any sound friend, who may have been wont, for a series of years, to occupy the unthanked office of volunteer-lay-tutor to the young preachers

TALK. What you will: I will talk of things heavenly or things earthly; things moral or things evangelical; things sacred or things profane; things past or things to come; things foreign or things at home; things more essential or things circumstantial; provided that all be done to our profit.

Now did Faithful begin to wonder, and stepping to Christian (for he walked all this while by himself) he said to him, but softly, What a brave companion have we got! Surely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim.

At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, This man, with whom you are so taken, will beguile with this tongue of his twenty of them who know him not.".

successively appointed to the circuit in which he resides.

The principal matter upon which our venerable friend Mrs. B. exercised her fidelity, during our brief call, was the state of our own experience, as to which she appeared to "stand in doubt;" not from any thing exceptionable which she had observed, or suspected, in us, when out of the pulpit, but purely from the character of our preaching. "Either" (said she) we are in a very low state, or you certainly need another dip!" We were spirited enough to support the former supposition, and yet candidly admitted that the latter, also, was by no means groundless.

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Blessed be God! we have had our fresh immersions into the element of divine light, and life, and power, repeatedly, since that well remembered interview. Nevertheless, at this distant date, and on the last evening of the most prosperous year of our ministry (while hurrying our page under the exciting anticipation of watch-night-solemnities) we are perfectly conscious of both an urgent need, and insatiate desire, for yet another baptism of the Spirit,-more abundant, transforming, and glorious. Such living streams of divine influence are identified with the dispensation under which we live and preach; and of our great High Priest, through whom they are received, it is said-" For God giveth not the Spirit

by measure unto him." (John iii, 34.) May the purchased and promised gift descend this night,|| in pentecostal plenitude, upon both pastors and congregations, throughout our beloved connexion!

The above searching, yet by no means offensive, allusion to a defect in our pulpit labours, was supplemented by an almost equally valuable observation on the subject of " Historical Parallels,” taken from the scriptures, and often wire-drawn far beyond what can tend to edification. "Be shorter and more pointed," said our worthy monitress, "upon Scripture characters. For instance, when preaching about David, remember it is not David's poor soul that wants saving, but the souls of the people!" That, also, was to us " as a nail in a sure place."

Prayer closed this salutary interview; and ere we renewed our call, there had been symptoms of revival in the societies both in town and country. For this improved tone, we, in conjunction with our two talented colleagues, laboured hard and prayed fervently; and it is probable that even those who, in times of depression and decrease, might be somewhat fastidious in their estimate of preaching, would be far more easily satisfied with inferior discourses, delivered under the inspiring zest of a revival. At one of the country places, then called Halshaw Moor, now Farnworth, many were "added to the

December 31, 1849.

church" in the course of the first winter we passed among them; and the work was as permanent as it had been rapid. This was the more remarkable, inasmuch as we had been premonished by some of the friends residing in the town, not to expect much encouragement in our revival efforts at that place, on account of the solid, rather than lively, type of that particular society. For our encouragement, however, a circumstance occurred at our very first appointment there, which indicated a movement in the direction of co-operative zeal. We were in our second hymn, and inwardly engaged with our Divine Master for some token for good to be vouchsafed during the service, when the Apparitor, or Chapel-keeper, who was also a leader, claimed our attention to a notice or two which he was in the act of depositing upon the ledge of the pulpit. We should scarcely have bestowed a thought upon so common a circumstance had not a more than average interest in the cause of God been depicted on the good man's countenance. He had been in the army, and had all that ceremony and deference of manners which result from habitual subordination, and ensure you against awkwardness and familiarity; either of which, in a person holding this office, is sufficiently offensive, and not to be atoned for by age, or even piety.