conftant business to please the divine Redeemer. The great apoftle to the Gentiles, addreffed his Chriftian friends at Corinth, in the following words. 2 Corinthians v. 8, 9. We are confident, I fay and willing rather to be abfent from the body to be prefent with the Lord. Wherefore we labor that whether prefent or abfent we may be accepted of him." as this spirit prevails in them, they realize that they, "are bought with a price,", and feel disposed to please him," who hath fo loved the world that he gave his only be. gotten fon that whofoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." They are equally difpofed to please him, "who was wounded for their tranfgreffions, and bruised for their iniquities." They are indeed dead unto fin, but alive unto God through Jefus Christ." Their language is like that of the fweet finger of Ifrael, "I delight to do thy will O my God; yea thy law is in my heart." Thefe words evidently, refpected the apoftles primarily, concerning whom it is faid in the preceding chapter, "God who commanded the light to fhine out of darkness, hath fhined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift." But they no doubt fecondarily refpect all perfons, who are actually renewed by the Holy Ghoft in every age of the world-all perfons who are actually," created in Chrift Jefus unto good works," whether they be Jews or Gentiles, pub-faid and altogether lovely," much lic minifters or private Chriftians. Notwithstanding the attachment in all men, naturally, to this world, and their great inattention to every thing of a ferious nature, thofe perfons into whofe hearts, "God hath fhined," are often "willing to be abfent from the body to be prefent with the Lord:" and so far as they are fanctified, they "labor whether prefent or abfent to be accepted of him.". As the affectionate wife, with refpect to her perfon, and the management of all her concerns, feeks to pleafe her husband, whether fhe is in, or out of his prefence, fo perfons enlightened into the truth, and allied to Chrift, who is "the chiefeft among ten thou more, "labor whether present or abfent to be accepted of him." They labor to please him, not merely in fome tranfient warmth of affection, or upon fome public occafion, but uniformly, and even in the moft retired fituation. Moft fincerely they adopt the following prayer, made by the man after God's own heart, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. Perfons divinely illuminated, in- And fee if there be any wicked to whofe hearts "God hath fhi-way in me, and lead me in the way ned," to fhow his glory" in the everlasting." face of Jefus Chrift," have a new nature; fo far therefore as they act under its influence, or act in character as Chriftians, they endeavor to meet the approbation of him, who hath graciously quickened them, and accepted their perfons in Chrift; and given them the spirit of adoption." So far I am far from fuppofing, that thofe enlightened from above, are perfect in the love of God and man; but imagine nevertheless, that it is the governing defire of their hearts to love and ferve the Lord-that they are difpofed to watch-pray-fight the good fight of faith-to lay hold upon eternal life IT Tis well known, to all, who have any acquaintance with facred hiftory, that the children of Ifrael, after they came out of the land of Egypt, where they had endured most cruel fervitude, were made to journey forty years through a wildernefs. This journey, with all their wanderings and all the difficulties, dangers, and loffes they met with, was of divine appointment, and neceffary to prepare that people to enter the promised land. The holy fovereign of the universe was now bumbling and proving them.Among the methods which God took to humble Ifrael, Mofes particularly speaks of his feeding them with manna. Deut. viii. 16. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end. This manna was miraculous bread, rained down from heaven. It was to be found every day in the week, excepting the fabbath. No man was able to make the leaft gain of it, by gathering large quantities; for if they left the gatherings of one day over night, by the next morning it would contain worms, and become entirely unfit for use. On the fixth day, hovever, they might gather double the quantity which they did on other days, for fuch was the wonderful providence of God, that this bread from heaven, if laid up with reference to the fabbath, would retain all its sweetness and deliciousness unhurt. Tho' fo difficult to be kept, in ordinary cafes, even over one night, yet Mofes, by divine command, laid up a pot of this manna, that fucceeding generations might fee with what bread God fed the children of Ifrael in the wilderness; and this was preferved hundreds of years. For the space of forty years, God ceafed not to fend a supply of this food for the whole congregation. Thus wonderfully did the Moft High diftinguish the children of Ifrael from all other nations, by the manner of their being fupported. It was far from being fo with their fathers. Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, from whom they defcended, were husbandmen, and cultivators of the earth. God did not provide for them miraculoufly; but they supported themfelves, and their numerous families, by the fweat of the brow. Therefore Mofes said to them--God fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not. Such a thing had never been known or heard of, before it was done for them. Should we not fuppofe, at first view, that to be thus miraculouЛly fupported, day after day, and year after year, would be viewed by them as a great and distinguifhing honer, and that they were rather in danger of being proud of it? Should we not fuppose it would be gratifying to the feelings even of the natural heart to be as certain as the children of Ifrael were of daily food, and to obtain it with fo much ease, and at fo little expenfe? They had no occafion to endure the fatigues of the feed-time and harveft, nor had they any anxiety, left their profpects fhould be cut fhort, by untimely frofts, or blafts. Yet Mofes exprefsly fays, God fed them in this way that they might be humbled and proved. How all were well provided for, but not one of them was rich, nor was there any way for one to get above another. So eager was their defire to make gain of the manna, that they, at first, broke over the divine command and began to hoard up, but what they gathered foon became nauseous to them. Thus was their ambition checked, and thus were their proud hearts mortified. Their fa were men of large poffeffions, had many fervants, and while they lived, they were continually adding to their wealth, and were accounted great and honorable in the earth. The fame things were coveted by them, but they found themselves reftricted by being fed with manna. We may eafily fee, therefore, that this dispensation of God, though in reality a great blefling and honor to his people, was pointed directly against their proud and selfish hearts, To the hearts of the unfancti fied, the thought of dependence is painful. They wish to have eve can we view this as a method made ufe of by God, to humble them? This question will not be diffi-thers Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob cult to folve, if we keep in mind the natural feelings of the human heart. All mankind, in a state of nature, aspire after riches and worldly greatnefs. The natural heart has no defire of laying up a treasure any where but in this world. The idea of accumulating property, of increafing worldly fubftance, is, with moft men, a darling one. With a view to perfonal distinction, and felf-exaltation, each one is ambitious to collect and poffefs more of this world than his neighbor. To obtain this end, fome are planning one way, and fome another, and they are continually taking advan-ry thing, on which their happiness tage of the failures and defects of cach other's plans. That there is this thirfting for property among mankind is very manifeft. It is a characteristic of the depraved heart. Do we not already fee, therefore, that God's feeding the children of Ifrael with manna was wifely fitted to humble them? He fed them faithfully and deli-croffed all the feelings of their ciously, but he effectually shut the proud and aspiring hearts; for door against their amafling prop- they were kept in a ftate of abfoerty and growing rich. They lute dependence from day to day. had food in plenty from day to On the return of each night, they day, but they could not hoard up gave their eyes to fleep without a fingle grain of the manna; for having a morfel of bread, or any it would not keep. In this dif- thing with which it might be penfation of his providence, God made, in their dwellings. Their combatted all their notions of whole dependence was on the greatnefs and grandeur. They mere bounty and promife of God. depends, in their own hands, and at their own difpofal. This being the natural feeling of the human heart, how wifely fuited to humble Ifrael was God's appointment in feeding them with manna? Nothing could be more fo. While he manifested the greatest care and tenderness for them, he They lived as it is fometimes ex- cured. The whole dependence of Chriftians for that fpiritual food, which they need, is on the mere mercy and promife of God, juft as it was with the children of Ifrael, in regard to their food for each fucceeding day. They ate all the food they had every day, and lay An interesting application of down at night, without having the thefe thoughts may be made to leaft help in themselves. They the Chriftian life. This manna were poor and perfectly deftitute. was typical of the Lord Jefus If God had not interpofed for Chrift, who is the bread of eter- them every day, they muft inevinal life, as appears from John vi. tably have perifhed. It is juft fo 48-51. "I am that bread of life. with Chriftians in regard to spiritYour fathers did eat manna in the ual things. They are in a state of wilderness, and are dead. This is abfolute dependence from one day, the bread which cometh down from and from one minute to another. heaven, that a man may eat thereof They have no grace which they and not die. I am the living bread keep in ftore, and to which they which came down from heaven: If can repair for fupport under heavy any man eat of this bread, he fall and unexpected trials, or to enjoy live forever: and the bread that I fpecial privileges. How they shall will give is my flesh, which I will feel under fome great trial which give for the life of the world. In they have in profpect, or when Rev. ii. 17. it is faid-To him they may come to special ordinanthat overcometh will I give to eat of ces, they know not, because in the hidden manna. God's children themselves they find no help nor are as dependent for fpiritual food, ftrength. The prophet Hofea as the Ifraelites were for their fpeaks of the Lord's raining rightAs well may we fuppofe coufness upon his people; and these that our bodies can fubfift without thoughts fhow, us how we are to food, as that the renewed foul can understand him. As the manna live without partaking of the was rained down from heaven, so heavenly manna, without fome righteousness is rained from heavfpiritual refreshing from Jefus en on the children of God. For Christ. Muft Chriftians, then, that peace of conscience, that feed upon the bread which came | joy in the Holy Ghoft, that indown from heaven, the hidden crease of grace and perfeverance manna? How do they get fup- therein, which are so neceffary to plied? In the fame way that the the Chriftian character, they are Ifraelites did with their daily food. dependent from one moment to God does not fet them up with a another. All holy exercises, fuch ftock or fufficiency at once. This as fubmiffion and quietnefs under is very far from being the cafe. trials, faith in divine promifes, He keeps them quite poor and longings of foul after God, and empty in themselves, and fupplies benevolence toward men, are from them from one minute to another, heaven, and are fruits of the Holy according as he fees they need. Spirit. Chriftians have God's In this way his own glory is moft promife that they fhall be fupportdifplayed, and their fafety beft feed, and this is their whole fecurity, manna. H GENTLEMEN, AVING read with much pleafure and profit, the accounts in your very ufeful Magazine, of the late wonderful work of God in this and the adjacent ftates; I feel encouraged to fend you a narrative of what the fame beneficent and merciful being has done for us in this place. Altho the number of the converted or convinced here is not fo great as in fome other places of which you have publifhed an account; yet enough has been done to awaken many flumbering Chriftians to more exalted and pure devotion, and to excite praises to Zion's king from many who were fpiritually dead. It is animating indeed, to hear the former worldling, fpeak affectionately and feelingly of the gospel of Jefus Chrift; the oppofer commending the doctrines of grace; and to fee the once gay and volatile youth take each other by the hand, faying "come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.* The Lord will build up Jerufalem let us be glad and rejoice. This fociety is but lately formed, and I am the firft fettled minifter. I am informed that fome years fince, there was a small re Ifaiah ii. 3. At vival of religion, and feveral perfons added to the church. the time of my fettlement, while every thing else appeared favorable, the fpirit and power of vital piety feemed almoft gone. There was a commendable and general punctuality in attending public worfhip on the fabbath; but not attention and folemnity, which that animation, that fixed, engaged characterize thofe who tread the courts of the Lord to be fed with the bread of life and the waters of life. We had a number of praying families, but alas too many, in which the morning and evening facrifice was not offered to God, and no fupplication made by parents, for the gracious prefence of the Redeemer with themfelves and their children. Several cafes of difcipline exifted in the church, which required the tendereft management and lay upon the brethren as a heavy bur den. All faw and acknowledged the evil and longed to have it removed, but in the general inactivity and difcouragement, and owing perhaps in fome degree to the want of a fettled minifter nothing effectual had been done. The church appeared timid, and fome of the enemies of the cross exulted and caft reproach. It will appear however, that our finful fears were not realized; and that Chrift, the great head of the church, caused the sweet influences of his grace to break forth from this very quarter, whence we expected trouble and danger, on which we grounded our fears of difunion, and which appeared at the time to hang over us as a portentous cloud. Returning home from fome places where there was a revival, my mind became impreffed with the idea, that nothing fo effectually |