It is

tion among the people. Many however feel much engaged. singular to say that no sooner (generally speaking) doth an awakening begin, than these noisy fanatical Antinomians are sure to come to disturb the work. Now some of them crowd in from the westward, and A— is also blowing the coals of delusion among children and weak and foolish women in Calais. Their number is but small, and are decreasing fast. I have been obliged to forbid some of them from bringing their noise into our meetings. There is no intrigue but what they use in order to draw disciples after them. This is a hard trial from the enemy of souls. May the Lord enable me to be wise, discreet, and faithful, and so leave no unguarded place for the adversary to come in at. But these things are a hindrance in the way of the work of God. My method is this, I try to show the people that we are to look for nothing more or less from the power of the spirit of God, than grace to see and feel the error of our sinful ways so as to turn us by hearty repentance to God. (2.) To faith in Jesus Christ. (3.) To a peace of mind, and to a loving spirit to God and man. (4.) To the spirit of God bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. (5.) To a power against sin, and finally to an inward reformation of heart and to an outward reformation of conduct.

On the 7th December, finding that Parson C's place of meeting could not answer well to accommodate him and the people, and a wish to obey my call to attend with him at the interment of Capt. F, I offered the use of our new Chapel. This offer was acceptable all round, and the people attended very well. I was requested to make the last prayer, which I did. I do all I can to promote love and a good neighbourhood, although we do not in all points see alike.

On the 17th of January, while we were at our class at Mill Town, in cometh one of our noisy neighbours from the States—a stranger to me. I whispered to him, telling him that this was a private meeting of our friends, where we did not admit any but members. He then commenced his untoward harangue. He was told again and again we did not wish to be disturbed, but he went on until he was pointed to the door, with a request that he would withdraw; finding we were not to be imposed upon, he walked away peaceably, and came no more. By this means, I hope we shall get clear of these deluded people. I soon afterward heard of his being drunk, and lying on the road. Among the many troubles we have to encounter, owing to our living on these lines, we have that of many strangers coming in the name of single men, who are in reality married, and have decoyed young women, and got married among us. Such characters are exceedingly hateful every way,

I cry aloud and spare not against such base conduct, and this bringeth not only the displeasure of these men upon me, but of their supporters, and of their unlawful connexions which they have formed in this country. Some of these noisy professors of religion have been, and are now, of that cast. But all things are lawful for them according to

their creed.

The burial of the dead, and visiting the sick call for much of my attention. Now I am called to visit one of my nearest neighbours who layeth very low, and although he is not an attendant at our chapel, he is glad to see me. He continued a few weeks and died on Wednesday. The Friday following I invited his friends and Parson C-k to take his body into the new chapel. Parson A- -s, and Parson C-k, performed the church service, and Parson C-k preached, afterward I was requested to make the closing prayer. We had a large funeral indeed. On the Lord's day, 31st May, I had a heavy cold, yet I am in hopes that the grace of God wrought on the minds of the people, and I was happy to hear afterwards, that some found the word a great blessing. I am at present without a horse; I am not able to travel so far as I used to do, but I do what I can. On Sunday the 14th June, after preaching twice at Saint David, I had an encouraging time for penitent sinners at the school house, by Mr. D. Surely good will follow this refreshing meeting. On Thursday I had to walk to Mr. DBs, to baptize a child of his daughter's, who lay low, apparently in a decline. But she is nothing terrified, having given herself up to God in the name of his Son. I also saw another instance of God's mercy to a poor deformed little girl, who appears to have found peace with God. This is truly the Lord's doings. Thanks be to his holy name. On Wednesday, I went to the house of and buried his wife, whom I had visited in her sickness. She had lived a loose life; her dying language was, "O dear, what shall I do!" Before her interment, he came before all the company who was gathered to bury her, and said that yesterday morning, (the day after her death) while he and his son, and a little girl, were taking their breakfast in the room adjoining that where the corpse lay, they heard her repeat the following two syllables: "O dear, O dear." He ran into the room and examined the corpse, and found no alteration, but was sure of the correctness of this statement. I pretend not to ex

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plain this mysterious business, but the fact I am obliged to acknowledge. O may it prove a warning to me and others. On Friday the 26th, God was pleased to fill our hearts with gladness at our love-feast. It was truly a feast of love. On the 28th June, we had the largest

congregation we ever had at St. Stephen. The day was spent to the glory of God, both in preaching and at the table of the Lord. I was enabled to spend from five to six hours upon my feet speaking without weariness. At this quarter's meeting we joined seven more, glory be to God.

It

Tuesday, 30th June, 1818, the carpenters having completed the new chapel, we called the people together, with a view to dispose of the pews. After fixing the value so as to pay for the whole expense of the building &c., we found that the pews on the lower floor would be at sixty dollars, and those in the gallery at forty dollars. was concluded to raise a fund for the benefit of this church by bidding for choice. I was astonished to find that some gave no less than one hundred and thirty-five dollars for their choice, therefore the pews went very high, and all sold, except fifteen, on the spot: these I expect will soon be taken up, and if the people make payment, we shall do much better than we had any reason to expect. Thus the goodness of God has so far conducted us. My fear is now that many of the people who did not buy will leave off attending meeting, but time will prove their intentions.

On Wednesday after attending class in the country, I was requested to baptize a family of children, and just as I was done I received the heavy news of my faithful friend W——— P————, who but the day before sat by me, and wrote for us at the disposal of the pews. He left home in the morning sound and well, and was drowned before he landed at Robinston. This man was not only the worthy head of a numerous family, but also the centre of union to many others the most active man in Calais; and an unchangeable friend of mine. Wednesday the managers of our new chapel called upon me, requesting me to take the arrangement of the disposal of the pews, into my own hands, as it was expected that the purchasers would be better satisfied than otherwise they were likely to be. I acceded to their wish, and finding that by the people bidding so high, the poor were excluded from purchasing, I therefore put up an advertisement, saying that the pews would only be put to sale at an average value sufficient to cover the expense of building the chapel, and no more. And that such as had purchased before should get their pews at that rate, in proportion to their real value. This arrangement accommodated all round. Earthly gain is not our object, but the salvation of men.

(To be Continued.)

DIVINITY.

SERMON ON ROMANS XII. 6—8.

BY THE REV. GEORGE JOHNSON.

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, Whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation."

OUR blessed Lord, a short time previous to his departure from the world, said unto his apostles, "I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." John xvi. 7. In another place he assures them that "the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost," shall "teach" them all things, and bring all things to their "remembrance," whatsoever he had said unto them. John xiv. 26. And so soon as they "received the Holy Ghost," he informed them that "greater works" than what he had performed himself they should do.

To fulfil these predictions Jesus, according to his promise, sent the Divine Spirit on "the day of Pentecost," and "He sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts ii. 4. By these extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, they were enabled to heal the sick, raise the dead, foretel future events, speak in different languages, and possessed the miraculous interpretation of tongues.

But it appears evident that the words which we have selected, for our present improvement, have no reference whatever to the extraordinary gifts of the Divine Spirit. They seem to refer only to the ordinary influences of the Spirit of truth, and in this light we shall view them.

It was necessary in the commencement of the Christian dispensation, for the confirmation of the truth of christianity, and the conviction and conversion of many, that numbers of its primitive teachers should be endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. But it does not appear that they were designed to continue always in the Church; and it is demonstrated, by the actual experience of the church, that they are not absolutely requisite for the continuance of peace, prosperity, or enjoyment of its membe:s.

However, many have erroneously concluded, and that to the injury, if not to the destruction, of their own souls, and those of others, that when the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit ceased in the church, her

members were no more influenced by His agency. This certainly is a most dangerous and destructive error. If the spirit is not imparted to renew and purify the guilty and polluted sinner, what is to become of him in a future state of existence? If the spirit is not now shed abroad in the heart how can the soul be made mcet for heaven? No spirit, no forgiveness, no enjoyment of religion, no loving God supremely and our neighbours as ourselves, and consequently, no christian happiness in death, no heaven hereafter, or glory with the Triune God. These consequences must irresistibly follow. The scriptures assure us that the position which we take is correct. By them we are informed, in unequivocal language, that the ordinary influences of the spirit are to continue in the church of Christ upon earth to the latest generations. In the commencement of the promulgation of Christianity not only a few individuals, but whole churches, received the common or ordinary gifts of the spirit, while they made no pretensions to His extraordinary influence. It would appear that but few of even the primitive Christians were endowed with the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost. If then we presume to deny the ordinary agency of the divine spirit upon the human heart, what shall we make of those primitive disciples who only enjoyed His common operations? and of those passages which expressly teach us that we must be renewed by the Spirit of God, or perish forever? St. Paul prayed that the whole church at Ephesus might have "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ;" and that they might be "renewed by the spirit in their inward man.” Eph. i. 17. iii. 16. And in addressing the christian church at large, he especially ascribes their spiritual attainments to the operations of the spirit of God. "Not by works of righteousness," he says, "which we have done, but according to His mercy He saveth us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Tit. iii. 3, 6. Now if the whole christian church formerly received the gift of His ordinary influence, why should not we at this day? Is it not as absolutely necessary that the spirit should be imparted unto us now, as to the whole churches in the days of the apostles? when Peter said, "the promise of the spirit is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off." Did he intend to limit the gift of the spirit to the apostolic age? or has he not rather informed us that He, the spirit of truth, is to continue in the church unto the end of time? But why are we taught so much in the sacred scriptures respecting our having the spirit dwelling within us? They exhort us to pray for the spirit; they promise Him to us; they exhort us to submit to Him, and