to practise charity, to exercise piety; not, however, that we may be hereby justified, but because we are justified for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," not justified at all. Ingenious men may find much to urge against this simple truth. They who have studied religion in the closet, rather than in the world, or who know more of other history than of the history of the human heart, may think that we are thus leaving the narrow gate too widely open, and making the road to heaven too smooth. So it has been from the beginning. The Apostles were accused of encouraging sin, by proclaiming the abundance of divine grace. The Jews were jealous that Christians should enjoy immunity from a burden which they themselves had borne, and escape the ordinances of the law of Moses. And the adversaries of the Christian faith made it one pretence of their opposition, that it offered the divine favour to the profligate and malefactor. But they to whom the truth was committed, did not meet these imputations by denying that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." They did not escape from a false accusation by a reserve of the truth which was assailed. They did not confound the propitiation which atones, with the sanctification which that propitiation works on the believer's heart. So far from it, we find Paul on this matter speaking with a vehemence unusual to him: "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye

have received, let him be accursed."

And, surely, we find here, as we might expect to find, that God destroys the wisdom of the wise, and brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent. For whilst learned men are elaborately proving, that outward rites and services are the only means of holiness on which we can depend, that "bodily exercise " and " voluntary humiliation" are the proper mode in which a sinner may approach his God, the plain Preacher of the Gospel is confuting them, not by words, but by faith; and the honest disciple is showing, that "they who have believed in Christ will be careful to maintain good works." In religion, as in other things, many a truth which the philosopher passes by, is picked up by the simple and unlearned; whilst many a theory in which the philosopher prides himself, is contradicted by ordinary observation. And thus, in the present question, experience proves, that the only doctrine which conveys real comfort to the soul, is the only doctrine which produces the genuine spirit of Christian piety. Experience proves, that the more we labour to establish ourselves in the practice of holiness, the more need we find of clothing ourselves in the righteousness of our Redeemer. And again : the more firmly we trust to that righteousness which is not our own, the nearer we advance towards the personal righteousness which we are striving to attain, and cannot be satisfied without attaining.

JUDGMENT ON

COUNT ZINZENDORF, while residing at Dresden, was invited by a certain gentleman to dine with him, on his birth-day, May 26th, 1723. He went, though ignorant what kind of company he should meet there. While sitting at table, and discoursing on a variety of subjects, one of the company went so far as to blaspheine Christ and his doctrine. This was a dagger to the heart of

A BLASPHEMER.

the Count; who, apprehensive that more such expressions would proceed from a tongue thus "set on fire of hell," did not enter into a dispute with him, but rose up from table, horrified, and withdrew, saying, he was of no use in such company. He went home, and was so inwardly grieved at what he had heard, that he seized his pen, and wrote a poem, expressing his pro

found abhorrence of such impious language. In it he entreated the Lord, if such people spurned his grace, and if there was no hope of their repentance, to make an example of them, that others might be deterred from acting in a similar manner. Before a year expired, this very individual, while using similar disgraceful language, at the same table, was struck with para

lysis, so as to be unable to utter a word more; and thus died miserably.

From this event the Count took occasion, in a serious letter, impressively to point out, to all who were present on the occasion, what they had to expect, unless they became converted characters.-Spangenberg's Life of Count Zinzendorf.

IN 1735 Count Zinzendorf, travelling through Germany to Switzerland, stopped at Leichnam, where he visited Count Von Gersdorf, and, according to his custom, conversed with him till towards midnight. When about to retire to rest, he felt impelled to continue his journey; and, being assured that it was his Saviour's will, he ordered a carriage, took leave of his friend, and set off, without suffering any thing to detain him. Scarcely had

he left the place, when the ceiling of the room, in which he was to have slept, suddenly gave way, and fell down upon the place where the bed stood; so that it would have crushed him, if he had been there. This made a deep impression on Count Gersdorf, who frequently related the circumstance. I have also inspected the room, with feelings of gratitude to our Lord and Saviour. -Spangenberg's Life of Count Zinzendorf.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD COUNT ZINZENDORF sailed from New-York, for England, in January, 1743, in the ship "James," Captain Garrison. The following relation is given in the Captain's own words:

"On the 14th of February, when we were near the Scilly Islands, and the wind blew tempestuously from the south, we were in great danger of foundering upon the rocks. The crew were in great terror, and I myself was afraid. The Count, perceiving this, asked me if the danger were really so great; but, at the same time, comforted me, and told me we should all come safely to land. He himself was so cheerful and happy, during the danger, that I could not help wondering at it. But when he saw that I was still anxious, he told me, that the storm would be over in two hours. I was scarcely able to listen to this; for I took it for granted, that this was something which no one could know

IN TIME OF DANGER.

beforehand. Hence I made myself ready for death, by prayer and supplication, as I was wont to do in similar circumstances. When the two hours had elapsed, he told me to go upon deck, and look at the appearance of the weather. Scarcely had I been there two minutes, when the storm subsided, the wind changed to the south-west, and we were soon out of all danger. I then remembered what he had said to me, and was much affected by it. On this I went down into the cabin, and informed him that the storm was now over, and that we were out of danger. He then requested us to return thanks with him to God, who had delivered us; which we accordingly did.

Being very desirous of knowing how the Count could determine the precise time when the storm would subside, I questioned him about it. He said, in reply, that he would plainly tell me how it was; being

human instrumentality. No person can doubt that the Almighty could, by the mere exercise of his power, independently of all efforts that either men or angels can put forth, spread the light of evangelical truth through all nations, and subject every child of Adam to the sway of his Christ; but he does not choose to do it. In the divine mind there are valid reasons against such a course. Some of those reasons are inscrutable to us, nor does it become us to inquire into them with irreverent curiosity. Our duty is, to ascertain the will of God, and then submit to it with meekness and alacrity; recollecting that the obligations under which we lie, with regard to the world's conversion, are not the arbitrary dictates of mere sovereignty, as some mistaken speculatists would persuade us, but the result of a "counsel," of which infinite wisdom, holiness, benevolence, and righteousness are the essential elements.

In advancing the cause of Christianity in the world, there is one class of agents, whom the providence and grace of God have called forth and largely employed; whose services, though of a subordinate kind, are of the most substantial value, and merit a more distinct and prominent record than they generally obtain. We allude, of course, to pious females. In the early ages of the church they provided the rights of hospitality for travelling Evangelists; they instructed persons of their own sex in the truths and duties of Christianity; as Deaconesses, they served the several churches to which they belonged, both in temporal and spiritual things; and in various ways "helped" even the Apostles in the propagation of the Gospel, and the building up of believers. They were not, indeed, employed as public teachers, so as to address set discourses to mixed assemblies; but they were not forbidden to assist in giving correct theological knowledge even to a Preacher, when he was found to entertain defective views of divine truth. Priscilla united with her husband in "teach

"the

ing" the eloquent Apollos way of the Lord more perfectly" than he had previously known it; and thus both the church and the world enjoyed the benefit of her wise counsel.

The kind of agency which prevailed in the apostolic churches has been successfully exerted in the Wesleyan societies, from their earliest formation. Mrs. Susanna Wesley, who had conducted religious meetings in the parsonage-house at Epworth, when her husband was from home, at a subsequent period withstood her son John, when he was intent upon silencing the first Lay-Preacher that appeared among his spiritual children; and declared, that Thomas Maxfield was as assuredly called of God to preach the Gospel, as the eager advocate of canonical regularity, on whose head the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury had been laid. After due examination, he acquiesced in her decision. Since that period, memorable in the history of revived piety, some thousands of devout and intelligent Methodist women have rendered essential service in the support and advancement of Christian godliness, as the Leaders of female classes, visiters of the sick, and the teachers of youth. In seasons of persecution, many of them have endured even brutal insults and violence, with a meekness and fortitude which would have been no dishonour to the primitive confessors.

With reference to the cause of Missions, the holy zeal, fidelity, and self-denial of Christian women are still more apparent. They are, beyond all comparison, the most diligent in the circulation of Missionary intelligence, by the distribution of printed documents on that allimportant subject; and by their unwearied perseverance, a large proportion of the requisite pecuniary supplies is raised for prosecuting that work of mercy, the benefits of which already extend to some of the most distant and barbarous nations, and will be lasting as eternity. We think it justly questionable, whether any order of persons make greater sacrifices, for the honour of

the Lord Jesus, and the spiritual good of mankind, than many of the wives of modern Missionaries; especially those of them who have enjoyed the advantages of education, with the sanctified pleasures of domestic and social life, in British homes; and who, with their devoted husbands, voluntarily submit to the untold privations, hardships, and perils which are necessarily attendant upon a residence among untamed savages; murderers of fathers, mothers, and children; whose feet are swift to shed blood; who gratify a fiend-like appetite, by voraciously feeding upon the mangled bodies of their own species; and whose warcry is scarcely less appalling than the yell of demons. Yet are there Christian women who, with a noble daring, sustained by the love of Christ, sacrifice the endearments of kindred and friendship, encounter the dangers of the great deep, and cheerfully submit to live and die among cannibals; that they may assist in spreading that Gospel which is the great healer of human misery. Such women sustain the spirits of their honoured husbands, amid their arduous toil; they teach the domestic arts to the wife and daughters of the savage; and they communicate evangelical instruction to those of their own sex, who are willing to listen to words whereby they may be saved. Of this number was Mrs. Cargill, the touching record of whose life is now before

us.

This intelligent and pious woman was a native of Aberdeen, and in early life was made a partaker of God's pardoning mercy and regenerating grace, by the exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus. Her acquaintance with Mr. Cargill commenced when he was a Student in the University of that city; and when he received his appointment, in the year 1832, as a Missionary to Tonga, she consented to accompany him, as his wife, to that distant field of labour.

"On the 6th of September, 1832, Miss Smith was united in marriage to the cbject of her choice. The prospect

of an immediate separation from a mother whom she tenderly loved, and the possibility of never being favoured with another opportunity of seeing her again in this world, operated powerfully on her feeling heart. The agitation of her mind greatly affected her body; and it was only by mustering all her strength that she was able to stand whilst the In

marriage ceremony was performed.

a few hours after the celebration of that event, Mrs. Cargill had to part with her friends. Such scenes are always painful. Mrs. Cargill was literally torn from her mother's arms.

This

was

merely the force of natural affection: that she never for a moment shrunk from the grace of God so supported her mind,

her undertaking, or wavered in her resolution. The exalted heroism of a will

ingness to make personal sacrifices for the welfare and happiness of others, and the calm resignation of the devoted Christian, elevated her soul, and tranquillized her frame. Though tears of filial affection and gratitude often trickled down her cheeks when her mother became the subject of her conversation or her thoughts; yet she never was heard to express regret Her submission to the dispensations of at the sacrifice which she had made.

Providence was entire and cheerful."

(Pages 22, 23.)

in the year 1834. Here a deep and The party arrived in Tonga early extensive work of God had for some time been in progress; and the blessed effects of true religion, as they were manifested in the devout converted natives, were refreshing spirit and the pure morality of the to the spirits of the strangers, after their long and perilous voyage.

"The first Sabbath which Mrs. Cargill spent in the Tonga Isles, was to her a day of much gratification and pleasure. About half-past eight, A. M., the bell was rung for divine service; and although a smart shower of rain was falling at the time, yet it did not prevent the chapel from being comfortably filled. Mr. Thomas conducted the service. The people united in the singing with one voice. The sound seemed the echo of a vibration on their hearts. During prayer, the silence and reverence becoming that solemn and interesting exercise were maintained by all. Young and old bowed their knees, and closed their eyes. During the sermon, which was delivered with great freedom of speech, the people