affliction comes, it "cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground," is a balm in our misfortunes, and an alleviating antidote to all our afflictions: for then "we seek unto God, and commit our cause unto him," who pitieth us, as a tender father pitieth his children; and, when we are overwhelmed in an abyss of distress, beams the glory of his countenance upon us, like the Day-Star from on high, and pours his refreshing kindness, which "in famine will redeem us from death, and in war from the power of the sword." This, however boisterously the blast of our misfortunes may blow, will calm the raging of the tempest, and, like the adorable Saviour commanding the waves to be still, will make our "tabernacle to be at peace." By the interposition of Divine grace, the severer our trials are, the more vigorous we grow; like the palm-tree, we ascend, in proportion to the weights suspended from our branches; or comparable to the genuine diamond, the rougher the touch of the artist, the more exquisite the radiance it reflects. As we confide in God's mercy, so ought we to be resigned to his will, under all our afflictions. When this is the case, the rains may descend, and the storms of affliction beat hard upon us, our trust is securely founded upon a rock, which will stand unmoved amidst the ruins of a falling world. The Rock of Ages is "higher than ourselves," and raises us superior to all our calamities. In the midst of the most dismal train of misfortunes, let us turn our views to the better side of things, where the rays of hope will brighten the dreary prospect, and the sunshine of resignation dispel the clouds of adversity. If the assistance of God be extended to our calamities, suppose they are more in number than the sands of the sea, at his rebuke they fly, and our sorrow is turned into gladness. The Omnipotence of Jehovah knows no difficulties, but accomplishes whatever it pleases, and subdues all things unto itself. Under all afflictions, let our contemplation soar with seraphic wings to mansions of glory and regions of delight, where saints and angels swell one united chorus of praise and thanksgiving, and the heaven of heavens resound with triumphant hallelujahs. Then, transported with ecstatic raptures, our souls will anticipate the beatific vision; and though surrounding misfortunes harass our affairs below, yet full of the glorious expectations of future bliss, we shall rise superior to affliction and calamity, while we aspire to "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Seeing, then, that afflictions are the lot of mortals, let us,

First, Prepare ourselves for them. Are we now at ease? Does a prosperous sun dart its rays upon us? Surely, we should consider the days of darkness, "for they may be many." When the cloud gathers, it is time for us to prepare for suffering. The holy apostle Paul thus anticipated suffering, "And now I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions await me." It is reported of Anaxagoras, that when news came to him of the death of his son, and it was thought he would have been much troubled at it, he answered only thus, "I knew that he was mortal." So when any trouble comes upon us, we should entertain such thoughts as these, "I knew my condition was

to be an afflicted one: I entered on the way of godliness upon these terms; this is God's ordinary way towards his people; I expect yet greater trials than these."

Secondly, We must lay up provision against an evil day. There is a threefold provision we shonld treasure up to prepare us for afflictions. 1. We should treasure up the consolations of God that he affords upon such occasions. He promises suffering grace for suffering times. 2. We should treasure up the experiences of God's ways towards us, and his gracious dealings with us in former straits. Past deliverances excite present confidence. 3. We should treasure up soul-supporting, soul-quickening, soul-reviving, soul-comforting promises, and that of several kinds, suitable to several afflictions, for we know not what kind of afflictions may fall to our lot. Weak grace may uphold us now, but strong grace will be required under great afflictions. That promise is worth more than ten thousand worlds, "Thy shoe shall be iron and brass, and as thy day is, thy strength shall be."

It is not every "Let none of you

or as a busy-body All are not called

Thirdly, In all our afflictions let us see that our cause be goodThat our call be clear-And, that our end be right. cause that a Christian should suffer in or for. suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, in other men's matters." Our call must be clear. to suffer martyrdom. "To you it is given to suffer," (says the Apostle) "not only that you should believe in Christ, but also suffer for his sake:" If sin and suffering surround us so, that we are necessitated to take the one and to leave the other, then we may conclude that Christ calls us to suffering. The end must be right. Many Romans, Spartans, and others, have suffered from wrong motives; but their example is not to be imitated by Christians. Our cause is good, and our end right, if we suffer for the glory of Christ, the cause of truth, the propagation of religion, and the mortification of our corruptions.

Finally, Every affliction and calamity is to be improved. There is a blessing in every ordinance of heaven, if we have wisdom and care to draw it forth, and to make it our own. From the rock of affliction, we may extract the sweetest honey. This we shall do, if our afflictions discover to us,-the sinfulness of sin-the emptiness of the creature-and the fulness of Jesus Christ.

[At the request of several pious and excellent Clergymen of the Established Church, we readily give insertion to the following Paper. We are aware, that the particular Plan proposed in it may not, in some of its minuter details, be found universally practicable; but in its general object and recommendations we heartily concur, and respectfully invite the attention of our serious readers to the subject.]

HINTS FOR A GENERAL UNION OF CHRISTIANS FOR PRAYER FOR THE OUT-POURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In the present day, a day which, for obvious reasons, may be called a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of blasphemy, and yet a VOL. XLIV. MARCH, 1821.

day which, from the advance of true religion, shines with many a ray of bright hope and earnest expectation;-in such a day, in which hope and fear thus alternately prevail, one great question ought to occupy the mind-How to overcome the evil, and to extend the good; how to confound the works of satan, and to enlarge and establish the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many are the attempts now making for this purpose. Societies are in active operation to suppress vice, to reform our prisons, to afford a refuge for the destitute, to provide an asylum for the penitent, to educate the young, to circulate the Holy Scriptures, to evangelize the heathen, and to promote Christianity among the Jews. Each of these institutions has its peculiar excellence, but they are all limited in their object and in their effort. No one great and extensive plan has yet been adopted, which may, at the same time, effectually benefit ourselves, our families, our country, and the world at large.

The aim of this paper is humbly to suggest such a plan, not to disparage other benevolent attempts, but to give life, and vigour, and energy to them all.-The plan is this: To unite all sincere Christians in earnest prayer for the general out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. This will meet the full extent both of our wants and of our desires.

The limits of this paper require brevity; but if the Scriptures are examined, the following truths will be clearly seen: viz. That no human effort is of itself sufficient to change the heart of man, or to build the spiritual temple of the Lord. God employs men as instruments, but he is himself the great Agent. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God only giveth the increase. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

That the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit Jehovah, the third Person of the ever-blessed Trinity, is infinite in power; that with him nothing is impossible; all hearts are open to him, and all creatures subject to his will. That, exclusively of his almighty power as God, in the economy of our salvation, he has undertaken offices which are fully sufficient to secure the most extensive blessings. He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; he takes away the stony heart, and gives an heart of flesh; he assists in prayer, and acts as a teacher and remembrancer; he guides into all truth; he glorifies the Lord Jesus, and sheds abroad the love of God in the heart. He also has a boundless treasury of every requisite to accomplish his purposes: for he receives of the things that are Christ's, and shews them to his people; and in the Lord Jesus we know are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. "In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The Holy Spirit, therefore, Iras only to exercise his office, to pour out gifts and graces from the inexhaustible fulness of Christ, and what man, by all his efforts, can never attain, the Eternal Spirit can immediately accomplish. The same power which, on the day of Pentecost, effected the conversion of three thousand unbelieving Jews under one discourse, can convince the most prejudiced, and change the hearts of the most obdurate of the present day. When he makes bare his arm, the mountains will flow down at his presence, nations will be born at once, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of God and of his Christ.

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Whilst the sacred Scriptures thus acquaint us with the power of the Holy Spirit to effect these great objects, they afford us every reason to expect this aid, whenever general prayer is made for its exercise.-The prophecies clearly shew that days of great blessedness are before us, and that these days will be preceded or accompanied by a very large effusion of the Holy Spirit. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Joel plainly predict this effusion, whilst Ezekiel confirms these predictions by the most striking emblems. Who can read the remarkable vision of the valley full of dry bones, and the interpretation given of that vision, without being convinced that the Holy Spirit will yet exercise his office in a very remarkable manner? So powerfully, that those who are now as a multitude of dry bones, shall stand up as a great army of true believers. The Divine Oracles at the same time assure us that it is in answer to prayer that this blessing will be bestowed. It was not till the prophet had said, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live,” that the life-giving Spirit came. In another prophecy, also, after promises of great mercies, it is added, "I will yet for this be in quired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." Such is the connexion between the gift and prayer for its bestowment. So much is this the order in which the Lord grants his mercies, that he has promised not only to pour out a spirit of prayer and supplication upon his people, but to lead them to excite one another to this exercise; for thus it is written, "The inhabitants of one city shall go to: another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts; I will go also," And when prayer is offered, God declares, "Before they call I will answer, and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear.”

Without, therefore, entering into the question as to the exact period of these glorions times, we have every reason to believe, that whenever prayer is generally made for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, this unspeakable blessing will be afforded.

Could we find any instance in which the Lord has refused to hear the prayers of his people, even when praying solely for their own deliverance, we might be discouraged; but when he has from the beginning heard their cry and saved them, we may rest assured he will answer our petitions. That which is now desired is for his own glory, for the attainment of that object for which the Lord Jesus shed his precious blood! For, at what time will he see the travail of his soul and be satisfied? Is it not when the Holy Spirit, taking his great power, and exercising his mighty energy, shall so bless the earth, that multitudes of every nation, tribe, and tongue, shall bow to the name of Jesus, and confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father?

The earnest supplications, therefore, of every sincere Christian for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and his unwearied efforts, by the Divine blessing, to excite a similar earnestness in others, are particularly desired. For the readier attainment of this object the following hints are respectfully offered.

1. That all ministers should seek a deeper and more abiding

conviction of their own personal need of the Divine influences of the Holy Spirit, both for their own growth in grace, and for success in all parts of their ministerial labours; that, under this conviction, they may be led to more earnest secret prayer for this blessing.

II. That they should, like Daniel and his companions, unite with their brethren as opportunities offer, in private social prayer for the general out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.

III. That they should preach upon the various offices of the Holy Spirit, that their congregations may be more practically acquainted with his important work in our salvation.

IV. That, in their general discourses, they should more habitually honour the Holy Spirit, by entreating his Divine aid, and ascribing their success to him.

V. That in large towns a weekly lecture should be set apart for the above purposes.

VI. That in the prayer-meetings which are now held by different denominations of Christians, special prayer should be made for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.

VII. That all Christians should be invited to set apart individually an hour from seven till eight o'clock on the Sabbath morning for private prayer and meditation on this subject; their prayer may include the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon themselves, their family, their ministers, their congregations, their country-all ministers of true religion, all societies formed for doing good, the heathen, and the Jews.

VIII. That all heads of families on Monday evening should entreat the same blessing in their family devotions.

IX. That all Christians should read the Scriptures with a view to a more intimate acquaintance with this subject.

X. That they should mention it to their religious correspondents at home and abroad; each Christian using his utmost ability to make this union for prayer as extensive as possible.

XI. That religious periodical publications should be requested to aid the design; and that this paper, if approved, should be reprinted, and other tracts written and published.

XII. That whilst Christians offer their prayers in simple reliance on the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, they should accompany them with deep humiliation for their own sins, for the sins of their country, and for the sins of the whole church;-and aim, in their conduct, to walk in love with all Christians, to be watchful against grieving the Holy Spirit, and in all things to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour: Remembering that it is written, "The Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified."

Several Ministers, and many private Christians, have already begun to act conformably to these hints; and it is hoped, as means are now using for drawing the attention of Christians in all parts of the world to this subject, that, by the Divine blessing, this union for prayer will ere long become general.

Suchan union cannot be contemplated without feelings of the most exalted pleasure and bright expectation. It is an union in which no