dependent upon impotent men to devise a scheme, the thought is horrid, and the expression impious. Nor is it less profane to read an appeal of the present Bishop of London, for more labourers, inserted in the above Missionary number, where his Lordship says, that in neglecting the perpetuating and upholding christianity we leave more souls to perish for whom Christ died upon the cross.

It is woeful to say, that upon these horrid and God-dishonouring principles, our modern evangelicals form their missionary plans, insomuch that God is left out of the whole, and represented as imbecile and disappointed in what he proposes, and that a renewal to spiritual life is solely the effect of the creature. Did we not hear with our ears, and mark with our own observation the darkness and ignorance so prevalent among our religious guides, we should not think such tactics were possible to be admitted by any person who acknowledges the omnipotency of God.

The sum of the subject is this, and it cannot be too often repeated by us, that as the production of elementary light was evidently and solely the effect of God's omnipotent command, so the shining of spiritual light upon the human soul, is equally, and as evidently, the effect of the same all powerful and operative word. And man contributes no more to this glorious effect, than darkness did to the creation of light. Divine agency, like the wind, bloweth where it pleases, is alike independent, powerful, and unaided, in the accomplishing of both. These positions are incontrovertible, they are founded on scripture, substantial facts, and staid reasoning. It is an axiom not to be controverted, God does as he pleaseth among the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or dare to say unto him, What dost thou ? In conversion, God asks not the sinner's leave, nor needs the sinner's help. Therefore he says to such who would dictate to him, or run before him, BE STILL, and KNOW that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return void. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. The ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion. My sheep, says Christ, shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. I pray not for the WORLD, but for THEM which thou hast given me, for THEY are THINE.

In a word, there is an innumerable company of SINNERS, which no man can number, out of every tribe, kindred, and tongue, who were loved by God the Father, and were given to his Eternal Son to redeem, and BEAR their iniquities, and whom the Holy Spirit agreed to regenerate, and conduct them safe to glory. This is the grand epitome of the gospel. Then we ask the Lord Bishop of London and the whole posse of our evangelicals, as also the eclectic party, who take upon themselves the AWFUL responsibility to ADJUDICATE prizes wherein the ETERNAL INTERESTS, of their fellowsinners are concerned, we inquire of them all, can God be disap

pointed in that which he has eternally decreed. Does the Almighty stand in need of our pounds, shillings and pence, to bring about his purposes. No, it is not the method of his procedure with the children of men. We have often said in our pages the way that God accomplishes his purposes, are by things that are not-the most unlikely means. How was the gospel carried into the Roman empire, and into several districts of Asia and Africa, but by mere RAMS' HORNS. NONE CAN TELL how the name of Jesus and salvation by him was brought into this island, probably by as mean an instrument as Naomi's little girl; and not at all unlikely, a converted subaltern in Cæsar's army. Be this as it may, this we are certain of, it were neither by the whirlwind nor the earthquake, but the still small voice.

Take an instance in our own country, how God worked by the instrumentality of an isolated individual, who moved in his boyhood in a humble rank of society, we mean George Whitefield, who has been called the apostle of the British empire, and compared to the angel flying with the everlasting gospel. His poor allowance was scanty, he had neither purse nor scrip, numerous enemies, and scarcely a friend. This man of God crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, and it is calculated, travelled upon the western continent not less than twenty thousand miles, carrying with him the glad tidings of salvation. God had at this time a revenue of souls to gather, and appointed him as the honoured instrument, and multitudes upon multitudes, both in America and in Europe, God gave him for his hire, and will be his crown of rejoicing, when God makes up his jewels. This is his manner of working, is marvellous in our eyes.

We solicit indulgence for this protracted digression, and will just conclude by observing, it has been alleged against us, we are averse to the missions now going forward. This is all very true, because we believe the instruments therein are AVERSE to the pure gospel of Christ Jesus, nor do we believe God ever sent them, nor will crown their measures with success. There is among them a mixture of the most discordant sentiments, made up of a confusion of tongues; the language of Ashdod with that of Canaan. Hence we find sectaries upon sectaries, with their various creeds and opinions, yet basing their mission upon this sandy foundation, namely, the universal love of God, and universal redemption-the deduction of which is, universal salvation; this is the platform from which they raise a superstructure-a rotten fabric.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, to us thy Holy Spirit to think, and do always such things as are rightful: that we who cannot do any thing that is good and proper without thee, may be enabled to live and do all things according to thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen and Amen.

A NARRATIVE OF THE REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF MR. JOHN BIGG, OF ROTHWELL, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

"All the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."-JOHN vi. 37.

MR. BIGG married a daughter of a worthy minister, Mr. Brown. ing. At that time he was very sober and well inclined, and by some thought to be godly. But it appeared some time after that the work was only outward. Being led aside by vain company, he was filled with dreadful horrors on that account; but fell into a woeful security, and continued hardened in sin, especially that of vain company-keeping for several years. At last he was visited with a lingering distemper, that brought him near to the gates of death; during which time he continued stupid and unconcerned about his soul. But it pleased the Lord to recover him, and he continued well for about two years or more; but then fell into a dangerous relapse- It then appeared pretty early in him, that he had some concern about his soul, though he kept it very secret ; and he was by nature reserved, and of few words, except when he was among his companions, and his head disordered. The first time he was seen to be concerned, was on the following occasion: It pleased the all-wise God, whose ways are in the deep, and whose judgments are past finding out, to lay his afflicting hand upon a child of his, of twelve years of age (who was known to be a gracious child) in a strange and unusual manner. The distemper with which the child was afflicted, was light-headedness; at which time she talked of divers things wildly, and among the rest, of what good people there were in the neighbourhood, whom she loved and she said her mother was good, and would go to heaven; but being asked concerning her father, whether she thought he would go to heaven, she replied, she desired he might. Mr. Bigg being called, she was asked again, in his presence, what she said of her father? "Nothing," says the child, very gravely and awfully, "but that I wish his eternal good;" which words fell upon him with such power and weight, as caused great weeping for some time. Very soon after, being sick and restless in the night, he said to his dearest relation, that he needed to have something; he was answered (supposing he meant physic) that nothing would do him more good than a little sleep; he replied, "yes, a little hope would do me more good." It was answered him, 66 true, a little good hope through grace, would do you more good, indeed. Remember that place of Scripture, Isaiah xlv. 22. Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else." He presently answered, that was not so easily done. "He was told that Christ was able to save to the uttermost ;""yes," he said, "and able to destroy to the uttermost, too." He then spoke little of soul matters, but as the force of terror one

while, and joy another, made him. Sometime after, as he was complaining, it was observed to him, that his condition was hopeful, though painful. "Time was when you have been under God's hand, and in great danger, and to my apprehension, stupid and sottish;" he answered, 66 yes, it was so." Then being asked if he had not some hope, he replied, that sometimes he was ready to think, that if God had had a purpose to destroy him, he would have done it before now. Not long after, as he was going to bed, he asked one, what she thought of him, as to his living? she answered, she did not know what the Lord would do with him, but as to appearance, you are not like to be long in this world-be being then very weak. "And must I die?" said he, "Oh! I dare not die, I dare not die; O! it is an awful thing to die, &c." Some short time after, while he was bitterly complaining, several scriptures were laid before him, to encourage his believing in Christ; he said, "True, if it had been in time, but now it is too late!" He was answered, that it was not too late, seeing the Lord had opened his eyes on this side the grave, and he had made him see his need of Christ. He said, "yes, it is too late, for I have had Christ set before me, and the means of salvation, as others have had, and I would not then have Christ; therefore it is just in God to deny him to me now." He was asked by one present, "can you justify God under all?" O! aye," said he, "O! aye, he that hath borne so many years provocation at my hands, I will speak well of him as long as I live, however he deals with me." At another time he desired that Scripture to be turned to, Phil. iii. 12. That I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ. "Methinks it bears this sense: that Christ must first take hold of the soul, before the soul can take hold of Christ.". A little before he kept his bed, he said to his wife, "dear, what must I do; there is no way for me, but to close with Jesus Christ; and I cannot do it; I do not know whether I am willing to be saved by Christ, or no: may be if I should recover, things may wear off; oh! I dread the thought of it; if I may but live until I have obtained mercy, I shall think I have lived long enough; but the thought, how few find mercy at last, would make any one's heart ache" It being in the heart of his dear relation to send to the church of Christ at Rothwell, to pray for him, she acquainted him with it, asking him if it was his desire also ; he answered, he had thonght of it some days before, but durst not be so bold as to mention it; but he desired they would seek the Lord for him, that he might savingly close with Jesus Christ, and have a true godly sorrow and repentance, which needed not to be repented of. And now we are drawing towards the close of bis life. The Friday before he departed, he could scarce rise, being exceeding weak; but he began to be very earnest about his soul. He said to Mrs. Bigg, "the prayers of God's people are a great support to me; I always had a great esteem for their prayers. The night he was confined

O'er mercy's unfathom'd abyss,
The vessel of mercy shall rove;
O'erwhelm'd with ineffable bliss,

And oceans of permanent love.
When ages on ages are gone,

Fresh glories shall rise to the view,
And, rolling eternity on,

For ever their bliss shall renew

The remnant in Jesus that's blest,
Whom God from eternity chose ;
Shall enter the haven of rest,

Though earth, hell, and sin may oppose.
Then, O how delightful the song,
When all in the chorus shall join!
The weaklings as well as the strong,
With shoutings and triumphs divine.

Westminster.

W.

000

CHRIST THE BELIEVER'S EXAMPLE.

CHRIST, as King of Zion, is a rule of obedience unto all his subjects, and calls them to imitate him; for, "though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience, by the things that he suffered."And he says to his subjects, "Learn of me, for I am meek and and lowly take my yoke upon you." He has left us an example that we should follow his steps; and accordingly every true subject of Christ he tries to imitate his King, to run his race, "Look. ing unto Jesus:" This is the believer's rule of life.

Add to this, Christ in his invisible kingdom, actuates and excites all his subjects to obedience to him, by his own Spirit, which he puts within them according to that promise, "I will put my Spirit within them, and cause them to walk in my statutes:" and by this Spirit of his in them, he makes them to study holiness in all manner of conversation; and their "light is made to shine so before men, that others seeing their good works, are made to glorify their Father which is in heaven." Is not this true obedience?

.

Thus Christ meekens the heart of his people to a due regard to all the intimations of his mind and will, so as every one of us is ready to say, "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" They wait with submission, like a servant waiting the commands of his master, and then he gives direction, according to that promise, "The meek will he guide in judgement, the meek will he teach his way."

But then Christ corrects and chastens his subjects: "for" if we be without correction, whereof all are partakers, then are we bastards and not sons." Christ will often leave the wicked to themselves, while he will severely correct his own subjects: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; and therefore