tianity extended, while its true dimensions gradually shrunk in. Its glory consisted in the rank of its professors, the splendour of its edifices, the pomp of its ceremonies, the uniformity of its ritual and its creed; but its prayers ceased to be effectual with God, and its labours to be beneficial The cherubim took their departure, and Ichabod was written on its deserted temples, and its, desecrated walls

to men.

If we turn our attention to the revivals of religion in modern times, you will find that they have usually commenced with the labours and prayers of a few men of apostolic spirit and zeal. Luther and Calvin; Zuinglius, and Melancthon; Cranmer and Knox, were men of eminent piety. Not less distinguished for their power with God, than for their power over men. The latter indeed, they derived from the former. Their private experience and devotion are not less edifying, than their public spirit and undaunted courage are instructive and worthy of imitation. It is impossible for a Christian not to trace the connexion between the piety and the success of these men. While the secular historian ascribes to second causes the mighty effects, which they were instrumental in producing, we discover the true secret of their energy, of their fearlessness, and of the extraordinary influence which they acquired. When their followers forsook their faith, they were shorn of their strength, became weak as other men, and soon fell a prey to the common enemy.

On the same principle, we account for the suc

cessful exertions of Franke in Germany, and Westley and Whitefield in our own country, in a period nearer to our own times. They were eminently holy men, and not more distinguished by their talents and their zeal, than for the intimacy of their intercourse with God, and the fervency and perseverance of their prayers. This gave an unction to all they said and did. The life of God glowed in their souls, and beamed in their countenances; and from the abundance of their hearts they poured out "thoughts that breathed in words that burned." There was nothing extraordinary in their sentiments, nothing wonderful in the common run of their discourses; but there was much of God's own forming in their personal and ministerial character, which God therefore acknowledged and blessed.

In the revivals of religion in America, which appear to us so very extraordinary, I believe it will generally be found, that though they sometimes commence without an apparent cause, there is a system of efficient and suitable means employed to carry them on and extend them. There is a great deal of prayer, a great deal of close and faithful conversation, a powerfully awakening tone of preaching, a frequency of meeting together in groupes and public assemblies for religious purposes, an abandonment for a time of secular pursuits, that the mind may be exclusively occupied with the things of eternity. That there is a suitableness in these things to produce spiritual impressions cannot be

doubted. They may indeed operate on the principle of sympathy, and thus produce, in some instances, only temporary effects. But who is prepared to maintain, that even the feelings of sympathy, when excited in connexion with the application of truth, to the understanding, may not be blessed by God to promote the salvation of men?*

Let it not be thought, that I intend by this train of reasoning to take the glory from God and give it to the creature. With him, in every instance, all that is good must originate. What have we that we have not received; and if we have received it, it does not become us to glory. My object has been to shew, that Scriptural principles are confirmed and illustrated by facts recorded in Scripture history, and known to us by other means: that God has promised to bless the faithful employment of his own appointed means, by his own people: that he sets no other limits to the communication of spiritual influence than those which we ourselves fix by the measure of our faith, and the degree of our zeal that nothing has been wanting on his part when his people have faithfully performed their's: that this is Heaven's law of distribution, as fixed and immutable as the connexion between faith and salvation, or any other principle in the divine administration: and that therefore the outpouring of the Spirit is in some respects at least at the command of the church of God. If it be with

* See Note [DD].

held, let the reason be sought for, and it will be found, not in the divine nature, as opposed to its communication; but in something, which involves the creature in guilt and criminality.

The way to the full enjoyment of this blessing then, is the vigorous and enlightened pursuit of those measures with which it is connected in the Divine economy; which are appointed to act as conductors of this celestial energy, and to bring down upon a withered and perishing world the life, and light, and purity of Heaven. It is not to be obtained by standing still and gazing upwards; it is not to be brought down by the best devised schemes or apparatus of human contrivance; it is not to be secured by the dull and monotonous employment even of God's own institutions; but by dependence on "the selectest influences" of the Holy Spirit, combined with a conscientious, energetic, and enthusiastic employment of all our sanctified powers, and the use of Christ's prepared instruments, These God has never failed to acknowledge, and to reward with

success.

It does not follow from our combining thus closely the influences of the Spirit with the use of appointed means, that therefore the means must always precede; and that God limits himself to the course which his people see meet to pursue. This is not at all necessary; nor indeed is it the sentiment we mean to inculcate. The first impulse to all right conduct, and to all wise exertion is from God. Sometimes the measures pro

posed by us, though good in themselves, may not be in accordance with God's intention, and they will therefore be prevented, or fail. Paul and his companions would gladly have preached the Gospel in Asia, but were forbidden of the Holy Ghost. They attempted to go into Bithynia for this purpose, but the Spirit suffered them not.*

What has been ap

The Divine Spirit often acts as the leader, or in the emphatic language of Scripture, prevents, anticipates our exertions, by pointing the way, and giving such indications of God's disposition and readiness to bless, that no doubt can be entertained of the path of duty. plied to his operations on individuals, is no less applicable to his conduct towards his church, while engaged in prosecuting the interests of his glory. "There are gales of the Spirit, unexpected influences of light and power, which no assiduity in the means of grace can command, but which it is a great point of wisdom to improve. If the husbandman is attentive to the vicissitudes of weather, and the face of the sky, that he may be prepared to take the full benefit of every gleam of sunshine, and every falling shower, how much more alert and attentive should we be, in watching for those influences from above, which are necessary to ripen and mature a far more precious crop! As the natural consequence of being long under the guidance of another, is a quick perception of his meaning, so that we can meet his wishes before

*Acts xvi. 6, 7.