nerated, should not be tremblingly alive to their misery. Apathy, under such circumstances, is surely highly irrational. A vivid realization of their state would impel them either to seek refuge in the great propitiation, or involve them in despair. In the lives of the most obdurate and unthinking, there are, perhaps, moments when flashes of truth appal the conscience ; "And, though o'erwhelming to the dazzled brain, So unfailing, however, is the compassion that characterises the mediatorial providence under which redeemed man is placed, that the instances are of extremely infrequent occurrence, in which a concern for the soul is permitted to terminate in settled despondency. This deplorable state of mind, if traced to its source, will ordinarily be found to originate in mental disorganization, or in a morbid sensibility occasioned by the depressive influence of some bodily disease. Moral pravity may, in such cases, aggravate the malady; but it is no matter of surprise if it does not yield to considerations, the force of which the mind is incapable of appreciating. Prayer is then our only resource. inexpressible are our obligations to the providence and grace of God, for sustaining the vigour of our intellectual faculties, unimpaired, and providing for us a redemption so free and plenteous! May gratitude prompt us cordially to embrace the latter, and to use the former to his glory! How Untiring in his efforts to do good, Mr. Black preached in the evening of the day on which the incident, just related, occurred, at the house of D. Ferguson. The blessed influence of his ministrations in Halifax became, on this occasion, more cheeringly apparent H "Some," he remarks, "seemed to have very serious impressions on their minds, and were distressed at the thoughts of my going away. Lord send them a faithful man, who may rightly divide the word of truth! "Wednesday, 26th.-I rode to Windsor and preached. The voice of the Lord was heard in our camp. God is, I trust, shaking his future home. Several trembled-wept-and cried for mercy. It was about this time that B. Harris found peace-a blessed woman to this day. "Saturday, 29th.-The arm of the Lord was made bare, while I preached at Horton, from John xviii : 40, Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.' O what a meeting! Strong were the consolations of God's people, and affecting the cries of the mourners, who were convinced of sin. Sunday, 30th.-I preached at Cornwallis in the morning, on,' By grace are ye saved ;' and in the afternoon, to the largest congregation I ever saw collected in any part of the country, or perhaps any body else, on 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.' Is. lxi: 1." The revival of the work of God which had, in many places, crowned Mr. Black's labours, had now acquired pretty general notoriety; and led to the expression of a desire, from various quarters, of a visit from him. The entreaties of several pious individuals, resident at Annapolis, were peculiarly importunate; and he determined to embrace the earliest opportunity of complying with their application. Accordingly, on the 1st of July, early in the morning, he left Halifax for this purpose; and spent the following day at Granville, which he improved by preaching to the people twice,-"both," he remarks, "powerful times." "Wednesday, 3d.—I crossed the river to the Annapolis side, and preached on Noah only remained alive, and those that were with him in the ark.'-Lord, how is it that I feel so little of thy love? I had rather be mourning in deep distress, than remain in this cold state. I feel neither happy nor unhappy. O stir up all the powers of my soul! I esteem thee, precious, Lord; let me feel thee so. "Thursday, 4th.—I preached near the town, on Zacchæus, the publican. O how did sinners weep and cry! Our meeting continued for several hours before we could separate. Part of this day I experienced sweet comfort, but every now and then a wandering thought would crowd in, and spoil my joys. "Saturday, 6th.-I preached with great freedom on Num. xix: 13. One woman cried aloud in sore distress. A few thought it their duty to spend the evening in prayer for her deliverance. We continued on our knees two hours and a half, when the Lord set her soul at liberty. Her husband, in deep distress, fell on the floor, and cried for mercy. "Sunday, 7th.-I preached three times on Rev. iii ; 20. God gave me much matter, and great liberty; and many felt the word. God is evidently at work here on many hearts. On Monday I preached at Granville, at six in the morning; at Wilmot, at ten; and at Bowens, at six, P. M. In the morning some, who had never manifested any concern for their souls before, were deeply affected; and appeared to be convinced. that the impression may never wear off! "Tuesday, 9th.-I rode on to Horton; and preached in a large barn, on 'Who is on the Lord's side? O what a meeting was this! Many trembled exceedingly; their knees smote one against the other. Among the rest was Matthew Ormsby, formerly a valiant servant of the devil, and confessedly as proud as Lucifer, now trembling every limb, while tears flowed plentifully from his eyes. Many now saw the necessity of inward religion; and with strong cries and tears besought the Lord for mercy. In the evening we had a watch-night. I preached on, 'What I say unto one, I say unto all, Watch.' Such a night as this I never saw before, unless at Mr. Oxley's, on my first setting out to seek the Lord. O what a noise and shaking among the dry bones. My voice could scarcely be heard. Joseph Johnson found this a time of love. The Lord passed by, and said unto his soul, Live ! When the first meeting was concluded, my strength was almost exhausted; and I feared I should not be able to preach again. But the Lord literally fulfilled his promise, that they that wait on Him, shall renew their strength." While Mr. Black was in labours so abundant to expand the sphere of his usefulness; while anxious to call sinners to repentance in places where his voice had not been previously heard, he was not forgetful of the interests of those societies which, under God, were the first fruits of his ministry. A prudent regard to their circumstances, rendered it expedient for him no longer to protract his stay from Cumberland. Nor was he fully aware, until he arrived there, of the ne• cessity of his speedy return.-No one who has read the preceding pages will, it is apprehended, suspect their subject of that exclusive and churlish spirit, that could see nothing beyond his own enclosure but sterility. Не was, however, equally exempt from that laxity of sentiment which sometimes usurps the honours of Christian liberality, undistinguished alike by predilection or principle. Firmly attached to the doctrines taught by Wesley, because he conceived them to be in perfect unison with the inspired standard of truth and duty, and appreciating the admirable system of discipline which, in the singleness of his heart, that venerable man was led by providential circumstances to adopt, as eminently fitted to deepen, diffuse, and perpetuate the work of God, he conceived his usefulness to be intimately connected with the faithful inculcation of the one, and the mild, but uncompromising, enforcement of the other. We cannot, therefore, wonder at the poignancy of his feelings when, on reaching Amherst, he found the harmony of the Society there, on which he had bestowed so much labour, bro-ken; and a large proportion of the members perverted and alienated, by the implicit admission of the dogmas of antinomian mysticism. Every one who has been similarly situated, must be aware how difficult it is to maintain the spirit of christian love unimpaired amidst such collisions; it is therefore peculiarly gratifying to meet, as in the following extract, with incidental evidence of his estimation of the piety of the person by whom this disastrous change had been caused, while he deprecates, in the most touching terms, the injury that had been done : : "Sunday, 14th.-I preached twice at Amherst. I felt longing desires after holiness; but not that sweetness in Jesus that I sometimes experience. O for more love!-Since I left this Mr. Alline has paid a second visit-completed a separation-drawn about seventy of the members of society away from us-thrown all |