A backslider in distress.

ceive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified, by faith that is in me.' Thus were his eyes

opened; he saw the radiant light of the cross; he believed, and was forgiven!

"Dec. 29.-This evening, at anxious meeting, conversed with a member of Mr. N- -'s church, who said she had formerly enjoyed the comforts of religion, but had yielded to pride, conformed to the world, and was in great distresssometimes feared she had committed the sin against the Holy Ghost."

"E. H. after being driven from many resting places, almost desperate, wrote down a resolution to renounce sin and devote herself to God. Her heart did not feel it, and yet she was depending upon it, when I visited her. I told her that would not do. She felt it to be hard to be drawn from that, for it relieved her mind in some measure.”

CHAPTER VII.

Celebration of the New Year.

THOSE who have witnessed what may be called the sanctification of the opening year, as practiced in some of the evangelical churches in our land, must have been struck with the moral sublimity of the scene. To hear the voice of prayer and the music of praise, as they greet the ear of midnight, and that midnight the solemn line of time, which separates the old from the new, the dying from the rising year, is both affecting and delightful. Thus did Walton and his christian friends commence the year 1824.

"Jan. 1, 1824.-Last evening we had service in our church, commencing at nine o'clock. I administered the Lord's supper. At twelve o'clock we all kneeled down and spent some time in silent prayer and praise. A considerable number then retired to the session room and spent the remainder of the night in singing, conference, &c. I remained until four o'clock. Was much pleased with the experience of some of our young converts. This is doubtless a work of God; flesh and blood could not teach them such things."

Whose reflections, at the opening of the year, when a faithful and inquisitive eye takes a retrospective glance, would not compare with the following? After speaking of retiring for prayer, he says, "I see that my heart has been

Reflections and resolutions.

evil, and only evil, continually. My pride, ingratitude, neglect, and forgetfulness of God; unfaithfulness, particularly in not improving opportunities of usefulness; my selfimportance, self-seeking, devoting my thoughts and time so much to the world, especially while living at Bethany,all these things, together with the want of those views and feelings which I ought to have had in performing my ministerial duties, make out a black catalogue indeed, and exhibit my condition and character in a more humiliating and alarming point of view than I have before seen it."

"I feel resolved, with the help of God, to press on, to follow on to know Him, and to strive to realize all that is to be felt in religion. I ardently desire this blessing, not only for the comfort of it, but to fit me for more usefulness in the ministry. I feel my incompetence to guide immortal souls to Heaven, although I thank God for giving me, lately, more correct views as to directions that ought to be given to sinners. I think I see unquestionable evidence that the Lord has blessed my labors, but that he might do and send me to hell after all. I desire now to submit to Him, and to cast my naked soul upon His sovereign mercy, through Jesus Christ. I desire never more to feel an emotion of pride, but ever more to feel the deepest humility before God. I know of no sin that I wish to retain. I think my chief desire is to love and serve Christ, and to promote His cause by every means in my power; to feel my will swallowed up in His; to follow Him through evil and good report, and to glory in His Cross."

"Mrs

says she has been repenting all her life, and yet does not feel that it would be just to send her to hell. She can't love God the Father, but she can love the Saviour! Her sister, after hearing that a christian must eat and drink, and do every thing for the glory of God, exclaimed 'Who can be a christian?' An unrenewed heart sees impossibilities in the way, but love God, and all is easy."

"Jan. 16.-My mind has been a good deal tried, and at times, cast down, lately, by the pecuniary difficulties of the church. I cannot see, at present, how I am to be supported here, and I dread the consequences of giving up the con

Difficulties in the congregation.

His efforts to restore peace and harmony.

gregation, in its present weak state. I feel, however, sensibly relieved, by trusting that the Lord will guide me, and provide for me, and take care of the concerns of his own church. My faith, however, is too wavering, and does not take so firm a hold of the promises as it ought."

Yet the Lord was better than his fears, and even than his faith, for he raised up means and agents, to make such provision both for his personal wants and the wants of the church, as subdued those fears and strengthened that faith. "Thus has the Lord provided for me in this, the time of my necessity. I tried to look to the Lord through the whole process of this business, and I must believe He has made this provision for me at the very time when I most needed it. I was expressing my difficulties and those of the church to Mr. Nevins, and also a probability that I should be obliged to leave here for want of support. He said 'No, you must not think of it. Let your people do their utmost, and then I will head a subscription, and get twenty men who will subscribe at least ten dollars a piece.' So the prospect of my continuance here, is brighter than it was. I hope we shall be able to struggle through our difficulties. I pray that they may be sanctified to us all, and that we may learn to depend entirely on the Lord!" This extract is introduced for the purpose of inviting attention to this example of an infant church, founded in faith, (it was founded by my excellent friend and brother, Nicholas Patterson,) and struggling through difficulties to the permanent standing and prosperity which it now enjoys. It would be neither necessary nor useful to enter into the particulars of these difficulties, some of which consisted in divisions among the people on ecclesiastical affairs, which have long since been healed, But they then affected the prospects and depressed the spirits of Walton. It matters little on what string Satan lays his hand, so that he produces discord.

Walton, under a heavy pressure of anxiety, preached

Power of conscience.

from Phil. i. 27: 'That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.' It was a kind effort on the part of the pious and conscientious Pastor, conceived in love and executed with fidelity, to produce and perpetuate the spirit of holy peace throughout his charge. His own soul was at this time filled with the love of God, and he probably never prayed more fervently for the reviving influences of the Holy Spirit. With respect to the pecuniary wants of the society, Mr. W. volunteered to undertake a soliciting tour, and to relinquish two hundred dollars of his salary, for the purpose of aiding in dissolving the Society's debt. The latter proposal was at once refused, and different means were adopted to effect the object.

A remarkable instance of the power of conscience in applying the truth, seems to have occurred at the time of the delivery of the sermon mentioned above. It is thus recorded;

"Feb. S.-Last Monday morning, Mr. came to me in a state of irritation and said, 'I have come to know why you made that violent attack on me yesterday, when I had no opportunity to defend myself!' I was astonished. The design of the sermon was to conciliate and harmonize the feelings of all the members of the church, after their troubles about selling the pews; and nothing but ignorance or infatuation could have admitted the impression he received. He said I could mean no person but him, and the eyes of all the congregation were upon him. I told him I never had thought of him from the time I chose the text until he came to see me. It made a painful impression for a little while, but it soon wore off. I hope and believe the Lord will cause this storm to blow over without doing any permanent injury. I have heard very little on the subject for the last week."

"This morning I administered the communion. Admitted eighteen. Resolved at the beginning to make the service short, but it seemed impossible. This evening, while reflecting in my study on the love of Christ, had a view of it that made a deeper impression than any I ever had. I feel that He has a right to me and all I can ever do for His glo