penetrating and transforming a manner, as to render them vital, operating principles, the food and the solace of our spirits. Without his agency, however intrinsically excellent, they will be to us mere dead speculation, an inert mass: it is only when they are animated by his breath, that they become spirit and life."

"It is his office to afford that anointing by which we may know all things; by a light which is not merely directive to the understanding, but which so shines upon the heart, as to give a relish of the sweetness of divine truth, and effectually produce a compliance with its dictates. It belongs to him to seal us to the day of redemption,' to put that mark and character upon us, which distinguishes the children of God, as well as to afford a foretaste, as an earnest of the future inheritance. And hereby,' saith an apostle, we know that we are of God, by the Spirit which he hath given us.' It is his office to subdue the corruption of our nature, not by leaving us inactive spectators of the combat, but by engaging us to a determined resistance to every sinful propensity, by teaching our hands to war, and our fingers to fight, so that the victory shall be ours, and the praise his. To help the infirmities of saints, who know not what to pray for as they ought, by making intercession for them with groanings which cannot be uttered,' is an important branch of his office. He kindles their desires, gives them a glimpse of the fulness of God, that all-comprehending good; and by exciting a relish of the beauties of holiness, and the ineffable pleasure which springs from nearness to God, disposes them to the fervent and effectual prayer which availeth much. In short, as Christ is the way to the Father, so it is equally certain, that the Spirit is the fountain of all the light and strength which enable us to walk in that way."

Miss Macfarlin and her brother proceeded in their inquiries after truth, till at length they renounced Unitarianism as an anti-scriptural system, no less derogatory to the honour of God than inapplicable to the moral condition of man-a system which flatters the pride of the human heart, but which makes no provision for the relief of a wounded conscience; and which by placing the hope of final blessedness on the attainment of

pre

personal virtue, supersedes the necessity of the Saviour's death and mediation, which constitute the most prominent and essential part of the scheme of redemption. And having renounced this system, they embraced the orthodox faith; and under its moral influence, rose to a state of communion with God, of which they had viously formed no conception. They now felt it their duty to recede entirely from the ministry of Dr. and become stated worshippers at -; which occasioned some regret to their venerable father, but he disdained to offer any opposition. Having remained some few months in their new religious connection as hearers of the word; and occasionally as spectators, when the death of the Saviour was celebrated by his disciples, they requested permission to join in this most sacred part of public worship; and after complying with the usual customs which prevail amongst dissenting churches, they were admitted.

As some of my readers may be ignorant of the forms which are generally observed by the Dissenters before they receive any into communion, it may not be unacceptable, if I very briefly state them. They do not admit persons indiscriminately to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, but require from the candidate a confession of his faith, and a moral deportment which corresponds with it. Hence they reject the sceptical and the immoral, as unfit to partake of the sacrament; but most willingly receive any one, without respect to rank, to talents, or to fortune, who can give a reason of the hope that is in him. The candidate usually applies to the pastor of the church, who, if satisfied with his conversation and general character, proposes him to the existing members, to be admitted into communion with them. This is done at a private meeting, which is held on some evening in the week which precedes the administration of the sacrament. Some Christians require the candidate to be present, and to answer any religious questions which any of the members may be inclined to propose; but as this is a practice which receives no sanction from the Scripture, and often occasions considerable embarrassment to a timid mind, it is now very generally discontinued, and nothing more is required than a brief statement from the lips of the

pastor, of the religious experience of the candidate, or a letter read, which he addresses to the church, which is read by the minister. If this statement, either from the pastor, or by the latter, is approved of, the candidate is admitted by the votes of the majority, and becomes entitled to all the privileges of Christian communion. These meetings are conducted with great solemnity, and are usually resorted to by the most pious, as eminently conducive to their spiritual improvement and felicity.

Mr. Macfarlin chose to state the outlines of his experience, by letter, and as the insertion of it, may vindicate the practice from some of the objections which a few wise and good men may urge against it, I will now give it to my readers.

To the Church of Christ assembling in

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN,

"As I now solicit the honour and the privilege of being admitted into communion with you, I feel it my duty to comply with your usual custom, by giving you the reasons which have influenced my decision. I have been educated in the belief of Unitarian sentiments, but on a cool and dispassionate enquiry, I have been induced to renounce them, and embrace the orthodox faith. I now believe in the supreme divinity of Jesus Christ-in the personality and agency of the Divine Spirit-in the guilt and depravity of human nature-in the reality and efficacy of the atonement, and the certainty of a state of future blessedness. If saved, as I hope to be, I expect to be saved by grace, through faith; For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The change which has taken place in my religious opinions, and in the taste and disposition of my mind, I gratefully ascribe to the renovating influence of a supernatural power; and feel too deeply impressed by a sense of my obligation to the God of all grace, not to

admire the interrogations of the Apostle, "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

I do not profess to be a perfect man; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. My reasons for wishing to become a member with you are, first, I approve of your mode of discipline, and I think it is my duty, as well as my privilege, to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, as I am depending on the efficacy of his death for salvation. Aware of my own infirmities, and of the temptations by which I am surrounded, I would most earnestly solicit a remembrance in your prayers, that I may be kept from the corruptions of the world, and at last be presented faultless before the presence of the Divine glory, with exceeding joy.

"Yours, &c. J. M.".

They were received into communion amongst their Christian brethren, with the utmost degree of cordiality and affection, and are still living the faithful witnesses of the truth as it is in Jesus. They had many virtues adorning their character, when they were called Unitarians; but now they carry their virtue to a higher pitch, by deriving the motives of its cultivation and display, from the authority of God, rather than the praise of man; and while they feel it to be their duty still to add to their virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity: they are so conscious of their defects, that they expect eternal life, not as a reward for their virtue, but as a sovereign and unmerited favour.

"At nine o'clock every night a bell-man goes through the whole settlement; this is the signal for all persons to retire to their houses. A watch, consisting of a few persons, then sits; and continue to perambulate the place all night, every hour crying, 'All's well.'"

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