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were crying for mercy; some shouting glory to God for pardoning grace, and others earnestly seeking to be filled with all the fulness of God. In another case, the leader was obliged to desist from speaking to the members, and attend to those who, under conviction for sin, had come to his class.

Private families are also graciously visited of God. In one, between midnight and day-break, the cry for mercy was heard in the garret, which soon called the family together. They joined in humble addresses to the throne of grace, and before the material sun arose to chase away the darkness of night, the Sun of Righteousness arose with healing in his wings, and brought salvation to the discased, sin-sick soul.

The abodes of human degradation and woe, have been visited by an all gracious God. The heavenly fire has been kindled up in the Penitentiary.-A number of the criminals profess to know God in the pardon of their sins. More than fifty came forward, on Sabbath, the 8th inst. after preaching at the institution, professing a determination to seek religion, and desiring religious instruction. I have thought it improper in their situation to admit them into society, but have requested our local brethren who preach to them, to give them all the religious instruction in their power, by speaking to them individually, and by this means to search them to the bottom; and to desire the keeper to have, at all times, a watchful eye over them. I rejoice that the ministry of the Methodists is owned of God in the redemption of these sons and daughters of human wretchedness.

I have never known so general an enquiry waked up among the people. Doctor Roberts observed to me a few days since, that during his residence in this city, he had never known any thing like it that in his professional duties he was frequently called out in the night to almost every part of the city; that he frequently fell in with persons in passing the streets, who knew nothing of him, nor he of them; and that he found the topic of their conversation generally to be the revival of the work of God among the Methodists. Such have been the displays of divine power, that in four weeks past, we have received, in the town, between three and four hundred white people into the church; and still the work is going on. It is thought that last Sabbath night exceeded any thing we have had since the revival commenced among us.

It is a little remarkable that there has been less extravagance in the work, and less opposition to it from those without, than I ever knew in any revival. Both the members, and those under distress, appear to know well what they are about. There is less of man and more of God in this revival, than I have ever known.

The subjects of this work are persons from twelve, to eighty or ninety years of age. Many heads of families, of respectable standing, and a great number of young men and women of good families and promising in their appearances are of the number: and in some instances, sinners of the deepest die have witnessed that Christ could save the chief of sinners. Grace is as much displayed in the redemption of the vilest of the vile, as in the salvation of those who have walked in the more refined and honourable paths of life.

In the commencement and progress of this great and blessed work, the plain truths of the gospel have been declared and enforced. The corruptions of human nature have been exposed— the universal atonement has been exhibited-the infinite sufficiency and willingness of Jesus Christ to save every child of man, have been declared; and on this ground all have been invited to take the water of life freely. The nature, and necessity of repentance, justification by faith, regeneration, and all the branches of experimental and practical godliness, and especially that holiness of heart, without which no man can see the Lord, have taken precedence in all our public and private ministrations; and blessed be God, the labour has not been in vain : Zion has shaken herself, and travails mightily in spirit. The wicked themselves can but notice the very great change that has taken place among us since the commencement of the revival. On Fell's-Point, where our ears used to be assailed with oaths and imprecations, you will now scarcely hear an improper word. The Sabbath, instead of being spent, (as in many instances it formerly was) in rioting, is regarded generally as a day of religious solemnity, and thousands flock to the house of God, to join in his holy worship.

In some cases, the work has been progressive, in others, instantaneous. Some have drank the wormwood and the gall of repentance for weeks before they found peace. Others have in a few hours found redemption in Jesus, the forgiveness of their sins. God works in his own way; to him may all the glory be given.

If there is a revival of the work of God in other churches, to any considerable extent, I know nothing of it. I did hear that a few had been converted in the Rev. Mr. Henshaw's congregation; but for the truth of this I cannot vouch. I have not heard of any revival, in any other instance, among the other churches. S. G. ROSZEL.

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WHY heaves my breast with this desponding sigh?

Why, O my sinking spirit, thus distrest?

Art thou not form'd to seek thy native sky,

And not in this frail tenement to rest? Why art thou thus cast down? Resign thy load,

Throw off thy needless fears, and Hope

in God.

His out-stretch'd arm, from earliest ages bared,

To save them, was his people's sure defence;

His willing ear their supplications heard,

In all their cares they drew their succour thence;

His tender love from everlasting flow'd, And fix'd the surest base of Hope in God.

The ancient Patriarchs, by this inspir'd,

Disdain'd to feel earth's transitory pain;

To prove their faith, this test their Lord requir'd,

And earthly loss they found eternal gain;

Left the vain good this varying world bestow'd,

And found their changless help was Hope in God.

and why art thou disquieted within Psalm xlii.

This arm'd the suffering saints of former days,

With dauntless breast to brave the tyrant's wrath;

From ling'ring tortures drew the note of praise,

And wing'd with heavenly joy their

latest breath;

While angels round the exalted martyrs stood,

In death's last moments whispering, Hope in God.

This rais'd the royal mourner's drooping breast,

O'er sorrow's gloom diffused a cheering ray;

When complicated woes his heart opprest,

He sought his burthen'd spirit thus

to stay, "Why sinks my soul beneath the afflictive rod,

When press'd with condemnation's Disquieted within me? Hope in God." guilty power,

The trembling sinner feels its galling chain;

Sees hell's dire jaws just opening to devour,

While in himself nor help nor pow

er remain,

Mercy flies swift, and through the atoning blood,

Invites his grief-worn soul to Hope in God.

If faith and peace have still'd the throbbing smart,

And gently heal'd conviction's galling wound,

Whilst ling'ring in the half-regenerate heart,

The rankling wounds of in-bred sin are found,

Let not thy soul o'er this in sorrows brood,

But join with ceaseless prayer firm Hope in God.

Should fierce temptation press thy conscious, breast,

If disappointment in the smiling mora, Deceitful dash the cup of joy away; Learn each delight beneath the skies to scorn,

Each earthly bliss, that knows but to betray,

Distrust the treach'rous smile of worldly good,

And put thy soul's unshaken Hope in God.

When friends forsake thee in the adverse hour,

Who smill'd eternal truth in happier days:

With flaming darts thy firmest faith Shrink not beneath contempt's malig

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No. III. p. 112. 1. 7 for want read wait. p. 115. 2d line of the extract of Mr. Campbell's letter to Mr. Blackburn, for ministerious read meritorious.

THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE.

FOR MAY, 1818.

DIVINITY.

EVIDENCES OF THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION.

Extracted from the new Edinburgh Encyclopædia.
(Continued from page 129.)

45. WITHIN the period of the gospel history, Judea experienced a good many vicissitudes in the state of its government. At one time it formed part of a kingdom under Herod the Great. At another, it formed part of a smaller government under Archelaus. It after this came under the direct administration of a Roman governor, which form was again interrupted for several years, by the elevation of Herod Agrippa to the sovereign power, as exercised by his grandfather; and it is at last left in the form of a province at the conclusion of the evangelical history. There were also frequent changes in the political state of the countries adjacent to Judea; and which are often alluded to in the New Testament. A caprice of the reigning emperor, often gave rise to a new form of government, and a new distribution of territory. It will be readily conceived, how much these perpetual fluctuations in the state of public affairs, both in Judea and its neighbourhood, must add to the power and difficulty of that ordeal to which the gospel history has been subjected.

46. On this part of the subject, there is no want of witnesses with whom to confront the writers of the New Testament. In addition to the Roman writers, who have touched upon the affairs of Judea, we have the benefit of a Jewish historian, who has given us a professed history of his own country. From VOL. I.

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