considers the frequency with which they are observed, as one of the most favourable and animating signs of the present age. But the spirit in which they are set apart, and the effect of which they are productive, will not always bear a scriptural investigation, and will not always do to be trusted. Me lancholy facts might be adduced to prove the ungodliness of the one, and the insufficiency of the other; and to demonstrate that, in too many cases, the early dew, and the morning cloud, are the most correct representations of the goodness thus originated, both of individuals and of societies. Much enthusiasm may be awakened; but enthusiasm is quite distinct from religion and as there may be enthusiasm where there is not the existence of religion, so there may be enthusiasm without any revival of religion. A great deal of noise and bustle may be occasioned; but, inasmuch as piety, like a majestic river, is always stillest when it is deepest, and always heard the least when it is seen and felt the most, the fact of there being such noise and bustle, would seem to intimate, that the piety which makes it must be shallow and superficial.

Personal religion is a habit of thinking, of feeling, and of acting, originated by the influence of the truth as it is in Jesus, brought into contact with the conscience and the heart, by the power of the Divine Spirit. It is an impression and a character given to the inner man, and exemplified in the deportment of the life, corresponding to the nature and tendency of the word of God. It is humility, arising out of deep and pungent convictions of our own guilt, sinfulness, and moral impotence. It is faith, or a simple dependence, for pardon and eternal life, upon the merit of Christ, resulting from

a clear discernment of the absolute necessity of his obedience and sacrifice, and a firm persuasion of the suitableness and all-sufficiency of what he has done and suffered as the representative of sinners. It is spirituality, occasioned by correct apprehensions of the nature and attributes of God, the dignity and condescension of the Saviour, and the various offices of the Holy Ghost, and by an abiding sense of the infinite superiority of heavenly and eternal things, over those which are earthly and temporal. And it is zeal-zeal, aiming at the advancement of the divine glory, and the good of the moral world

consequent upon accurate views of the designs of Jehovah, and vivid perceptions of the natural state of man-prompted and stimulated by an experimental acquaintance with the value of the gospel-and springing from gratitude for redeeming and distinguishing grace. Let an individual possess these ingredients of character, and though he possess them only as a grain of mustard seed, and their existence be scarcely discernible, it will not be denied, that such an individual is the subject of true religion. They are sentiments and dispositions which cannot be produced, except by the regenerating energy of divine power, and which, therefore, constitute a grand distinction between renewed and unrenewed persons. They are scriptural, and, consequently, sure indications of a work of grace upon the soul.

Now, a revival of religion, denotes, I apprehend, in the proper and legitimate signification of the term, (or at least, in the sense in which alone we ought to understand it,) an increase of religion. And, inasmuch as religion is a personal thing, and consists in the several peculiarities which

have been specified, a revival of religion evidently requires the production of those peculiarities where at present they do not exist; and their obvious growth and improvement where they have already been implanted.

Feelings of godly sorrow, and a deep sense of moral and spiritual destitution, must be awakened in hearts that have been hitherto proud and self-righteous, Christ, in the perfection of his obedience -the freeness and completeness of his atonement-and the sanctifying influence of his grace, must become the chief among ten thousand, in the estimation of such as now discern in him neither form nor comeliness, and can perceive no reason why they should desire him. Those who are earthly and carnal, and who, as yet, have only sought to allay their thirst for happiness, at the broken cisterns of this world, must be constrained to set their affections on things which are above. And those who live, day after day, and year after year, as if they were their own, must be brought to regard themselves as the property of Christ, and to pray with the subdued and convicted persecutor of Tarsus, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do.

In the experience of real Christians, that abandonment of hope as to their own righteousness and merits, caused by the first operations of grace upon their hearts, must grow into a more powerful sense of personal unworthiness-a more entire renunciation of selfa more habitual meekness and lowliness of spirit and a deeper abasement of soul before the Most High; that reliance upon the vicarious and propitiatory mediation of the Son of God, which they have discovered to be essential to their happiness and safety, and which they have been brought to exercise, N. S. No. 63.

must become more simple, more confiding, and more affectionate; those sentiments and feelings in reference to the world and the things of the world, and in reference to eternity and its incomparable grandeurs, which the influence of divine truth, as revealed and applied by the Holy Spirit, has excited in their bosoms, must rise to a far higher tone of heavenlymindedness; and those anxieties respecting the souls of men-the establishment and extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the general interests of real godliness, which can never be wholly absent from the heart of one who has tasted that the Lord is gracious, must have more warmth and earnestness thrown into them—must be rendered more influential — and must lead to more devout, decided, generous, and frequent practical results. Yes, in order to there being a revival of religion amongst us, there must just be amongst us, more humility, more faith, more spirituality, and more zeal.

That such a revival is necessary, cannot be questioned. The state of multitudes around us, proves that it is-the opinion entertained of religious professors, by the world, proves that it is the conviction of the church respecting itself, proves that it is-and, my fellowChristians, your own consciences tell you that it is.

Look abroad, over the immense territory presenting itself to your view on every side, which is still a moral desert, notwithstanding all the culture that has been bestowed upon it. How seldom do we hear any noise, or perceive any rustling in the valley of dry bones! How seldom do we meet with instances of evangelical repentance, and of sound and saving conversion !How rare is the spectacle of a sinner, pricked to the heart, ar

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rested in his course of iniquity, turned from the errors and follies of ungodliness, and working his way through the entanglements of depravity and the darkness of guilt, up to the cross! And how continually are we obliged to retire, after the Sabbath's exercises have been brought to a close, with the disheartening impression, that we have laboured in vain, and that we have been spending our strength for nought! What a stoical frigidity -what an impenetrable hardness -what an inveterate and defying wordliness-what an awful and appalling deadness there is in the moral condition of not a few composing our assemblies! O ye who have sat for ten, twenty, or perhaps thirty years under the ministry of the Gospel, but who are every day furnishing unequivocal evidences of utter destitution as to the one thing needful! Little do ye know of the discouragement and the dispiritedness produced in the bosoms of your ministers; little do ye know of the distraction and desperation to which they are not unfrequently driven, by the thought of your melancholy state! What more could have been done for you than has been done and yet, instead of being at all the better, ye seem to be growing worse! Ye appear to have settled down upon your lees! and it is as if there were nothing that could avail to disturb you, except the tempest of the final day! O yes, but there is-there is an arm that can reach you, far as ye have gone astray-there is a finger that can excite emotion in your hearts, insensible as they have become there is a voice that can rouse your energies, sluggish and torpid as they have hitherto been and should our sanctuaries prove the scenes of any eminent revival of religion, these dry bones will live,

and from amongst them will rise up decided, courageous, faithful, and, eventually, triumphant soldiers of the cross.

It is, however, not only in the world;-not only amongst individuals, who, whatever may be their morality and their virtue, make no professions, and experience no feelings of cordial attachment to the Lord Jesus;-not only amongst those who seem to be sermon-proof, and affliction proof, aye, and indulgence-proof, too, that we are to look for evidences, demonstrating the necessity of an altered state of things. The same melancholy fact is urged upon us, by the prevailing sentiments relative to the character and deportment of Christians themselves. You who are accustomed to be out in the world, and to associate, in matters of business, with ungodly persons, will immediately detect what is here adverted to. Scarcely is there a single day, or even a single transaction, which does not bring under your notice, the inconsistencies of professors. You are continually meeting with complaints and reproaches, raised against such as avow themselves the Lord's people. And, in the circles of commerce, it is, as your knowledge can testify, a predominant feeling, that we had better have to do with infidels than with religious characters. This ought not to be.

We are aware that the objection does not apply to the principles and dispositions of real piety; but it clearly proves that there must be a grievous depravation and compromise of them. I am fully conscious that splendid instances may be found, in reference to which the objection would never be adduced; but the fact of its prevalence and proverbial commonness, is a proof that, to a most lamentable extent, the state of things must be far otherwise. I need not

be told, that it is an objection, arising from the ignorance of foolish men; for of this, we are certain. But then, the character and moral influence of the professing world, ought to have put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; and after having existed so long, and with so many improvements and advantages all around her, and with so much of the light of heaven continually shining upon her, it is a shame and a disgrace to the church, that every heart is not compelled to do her homage, and every tongue constrained to speak in her praise.

And, 'while these are the ideas and feelings, cherished towards professors of religion, by the ungodly and profane; they are corrobora ted by the testimonies of professors of religion, respecting one another. The low state of evangelical piety amongst us, is a constant subject of regret, and of lamentation. Never, perhaps, has there been a period, wherein the charity that hopeth all things, had more to do, or was wont to be more frequently or more largely drawn upon. How incessantly are we obliged,-whether we wish it or not,-to observe tempers and practices, flagrantly at variance with the spirit of the gospel! How seldom do we know what it is to feel perfectly satisfied respecting a fellow-Christian, and to think or speak of him with any thing like unqualified approbation! And what a glorious discovery do we consider ourselves to have made,-what an inestimable treasure do we reckon ourselves to have found, if we can point to an individual, and say, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

But, to bring the subject nearer home. Let an appeal be made, my readers, to your own consciences. Is there not a voice in every one's heart, declaring that what I say is true? Does not every one's experience testify, that a revival of re

ligion is greatly needed? Look attentively at the doctrines, the precepts, and the histories, of the New Testament, and then review, with an impartial eye, the scenes of your own Christian pilgrimage, and what must be the result? Must it not be a deep conviction, that, as yet, it has only been a day of small things with you; and that your religion has been no better than a bruised reed, or than the smoking flax? Must it not be a conviction that shall awaken self-abhorrence, and prompt you to exclaim, My leanness, my leanness! Are you clothed with humility, and habitually cultivating the spirit expressed in the petition of the publican? Can you enter feelingly in the sentiments of the great apostle, and adopt his language as your own, when he styles himself, the chief of sinners, and the least of all saints? Can you, from what you yourselves have experienced, understand what he meant, when he declared that he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ? Not only do you know what it is to glory in nothing save in the cross; but do you really know what it is to glory in the cross? and do others know what it is to observe this respecting you? Can it be said, with truth, that your conversation is in heaven,

that, although you are in the world, you are not of the world,and that amidst the things which are seen and temporal, you maintain a decided and constant preference for those which are unseen and eternal? Is your spirituality of mind such as to ensure the daily appropriation of a considerable portion of your time for communion with God,-such as to transfuse itself into all your domestic employments, -such as to give a tone of piety to your most ordinary pursuits, such as to make you appear THE CHRISTIAN, in the smallest as well as in the greatest matters? Is it such as

to prompt you to the diligent and persevering use of all the public means of grace?-does it cause you to prize the Sabbath, and the sanctuary?-does it enable you to relish the simple exercises of prayer and praise? and does it bring you, with a cheerful heart, and with willing feet, to the house of God, as often as there are seasons of devotion? Is it such as to go with you into all the intercourses of life, and shed a hallowed radiance about you,

whatever may be the company you meet, whatever may be the business you transact,-or in whatever circumstances you may be placed; so that your fellow-mortals are constrained to take know ledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and never see you without feeling how awful goodness is? And are you alive to the divine glory? are you concerned for the salvation of perishing souls?-are you zealous ly affected toward the great cause of our Redeemer?-and do you prove that you are, by embracing every opportunity afforded you, of meeting with his people, when they unite to pray for the conversion of an apostate world, or of contributing according as God may have blessed you, to the support of benevolent institutions which have this for their end, or of assisting to carry the plans of such institutions into effect? Or is it not a melancholy truth, that, however evangelical you may be in the convictions of your judgments, you are far otherwise in the state of your hearts; and that while you disclaim all pretensions to any personal merit, and profess to derive your hope solely from the cross,while you readily admit your own unworthiness, and acknowledge Christ to be infinitely precious, the impressions upon your minds, corresponding to these sentiments, are lamentably feeble and inefficient? Is it not a fact, that the duties of the closet, are sometimes

neglected, and frequently gone through in a careless and slovenly manner? And is it not a fact, that there is far more of the world in your families, than there is of the church? And is it not a fact, that the greater part of you are never present at our meetings for prayer

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those thermometers, as they have been well termed, of the state of religion in a Christian society? And is it not a fact, that in social and commercial life, the points of distinction between you and others, which ought to be clear, and palpable, and striking, are exceedingly indistinct and unimpressive? is it not unquestionable, that were you disposed to imitate Jehu's conduct, you would be unable to do it, without subjecting yourself to ridicule, having scarcely any zeal for us to see? Or that were you disposed to act the part of the Pharisee, you are not qualified to do so, because you could not stand up before God, and declare, I give tithes of all I possess?

Let us not not impose upon ourselves;-let us not shut our eyes against the truth; but let us look at it fairly, and fully. And if we do, the conclusion, I think, at which all must arrive, will be that we are deplorably and inexcusably low in the scale of spiritual improvement, and that a revival of religion is loudly, and urgently, and imperatively called for.

How, then, is it to be promoted? I answer, by a conscientious and assiduous employment of the various means which God has appointed for our growing in grace, and which he has promised to crown with his blessing. Persons are apt to imagine that it can only be brought about, by the adoption of extraordinary measures; and though, perhaps, it will appear an uncharitable remark, yet the writer cannot but suspect, that there are not a few, to whom the thought of it would be far less agreeable, were