But if it be so, as so indeed it is, does it not become christians to evince an equal diligence to "seek and to save that which is lost?" It is true we cannot transport ourselves, like Satan, to every place, and observe everything; but we might distribute our representatives in every direction, so that wherever there was an emissary of Satan, there might be an agent of mercy. Did we feel as we ought to feel, our efforts to save souls would be multiplied a thousand-fold. We could not be silent and at ease till every member of our families, every fellow-townsman, every fellow-subject, and every fellow-creature had heard and received the grace of God. Mr. Binney relates an incident which is worthy to be pondered by us all. "I remember," he says, "a very striking circumstance which a neighbouring minister mentioned to me. There was in the town in which he preached an avowed and determined infidel. He saw this man one Sunday evening in his place of worship. He was preaching on some of the great verities of faith, and the duties resulting therefrom. As he was the next morning passing the door of the man, he was standing at it, and he said to him, 'I saw you at worship last night, and was rather surprised to see you there, as you do not believe what I was preaching.' 'No,' he said, 'nor do you either.' 'Indeed!' 'No,' he went on to say; why if I were to believe the things you affirm to be true, and which are written in your books, I should not know how to contain myself. I should feel their importance so much that I should exhibit them wherever I went. I should not know how to hold, in the enthusiasm they would excite. But I do not believe them, nor do you, or you would be very different persons from what you are."" Dreadful sarcasm! cutting irony! withering rebuke! But how shall it be removed? Only by shewing the same diligence to save sinners which Satan does to destroy them.

4. There is a restless anxiety till his purposes are realized.

He longs for the destruction of souls, their everlasting depravity and despair. This is his meat and his drink, his care and his confort. And though thousands perish daily through his influence, yet they perish not fast enough to satisfy his voracious appetite and insatiable thirst! He is happy as souls are wretched, and wretched as souls rejoice in the Lord. He feasts on scenes of debauchery, wretchedness, cruelty, and death, and laments that he can feast no more.

And is it so that Satan is anxious to destroy souls, and shall not Christians be equally anxious to save them? Are we not aware that thousands are perishing through him, and are daily going down to perdition to be bound and enslaved for ever? Can we believe this and "not feel the mournful scene?" Can we believe this and not say with some of old, "I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” "Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law." Parents, do you feel as you ought to feel in regard to your unconverted children? Masters, do you feel as you ought to feel in regard to your unconverted servants? Sunday School Teachers, do you feel as you ought to feel in regard to the unconverted of your scholars? Ministers, do we feel as we ought to feel in regard to the unconverted of our congregations? Do all Christians feel, and feel as they ought to feel, on this subject? Do our feelings amount to anxieties; do our anxieties lead to prayer and self-denying labours? Do we imitate Satan, not in his designs, but in the mode of his actions? in his fixedness of purpose,-in his skill,-in his untiring diligence,-in his restless anxiety? Till this is done, sinners will perish, and who says their blood will not be required at our hands? Christian,

"Do something, do it soon, with all thy might;
An angel's wing would droop if long at rest,
And God himself inactive, were no longer blest."

W. B.

HOW CAN I LIMIT MY PASTOR'S USEFULNESS?

Much every way, but chiefly,

1. By neglecting his ministry. This will grieve and depress him, and fill his mind with the most torturing anxiety whenever he appears in public. Everybody around you will also see that in your opinion he is not worth hearing. Moreover, it will effectually lessen in their estimation the value of the public ministry, and the importance of attending the worship of God. For how can the Sabbath-breaker and the ungodly of any class attach importance to these, when they see you, who profess to "love the habitation of God's house, and the place where his honour dwelleth,” practically disregarding them? Be assured that you cannot more effectually keep others from hearing your pastor than by neglecting his ministry yourself.

2. Do not pray for him! He may request it a thousand times as the most precious influence you can throw around him; but never give it. Should you occasionally engage in the social circle of your brethren, be sure that they never hear from your prayer that you are interested in the success of his ministry. If you gather your family around you, forget him, lest your children or domestics should incidentally discover that you feel for him. Do not carry his wants, with deep and intense earnestness, before God in the closet. No; withhold all these, and you will accomplish your object. Deprive him of the prayers which his office claims, and you will paralyze his right arm, and deprive him of success.

3. Never speak well of him. Not only never admire or commend him in the presence of others, as one who should be loved for his work's sake, but be sure you play the great man! If occasionally you hear him, be the critic for the remainder of the day. Analyze the whole sermon. If a figure was not quite appropriate, spare it not. If an action was not classical, condemn his want of taste. If any error in language is discovered, expatiate upon his ignorance; and should a sentence be badly constructed, dissect it with great glee. This will effectually serve your purpose. It will eradicate from the minds of your family any feeling of respect for your pastor. Nay, it will do more; for as you will no doubt exercise your power on other occasions, so a greater number will see, that a profession of religion is only hypocrisy, and that attendance upon the service of God is only for amusement rather than the solid advancement of the mind in holiness and piety. I will only add,

4. Let your example in daily life be a full refutation of his ministry. Always stand in contrast with the truth he preaches. Never let it be seen in the circle in which you move that it exerts any influence upon you. If he urges you to be heavenly-minded, spiritual, holy, then be as worldly as possible. If he cautions you against the world, rush into it headlong. If he inculcates the spirit of love, and advises you to be clothed with humility, be sure and assume all the airs and pride of the worldling. Whatever he may commend from God's word, admit it but never practise it. Be satisfied with the form, but never exhibit the power, the reality of religion. Do this, and you are sure of success. He cannot stand before it. He will be weak as an infant in your presence, and the might of your principles will be seen in leaving him powerless for good.

Reader, you will understand us. The success of the pastor, under God, is dependent upon the church. Its responsibilities are grave, its iniquities are fearful. Long and loud has been the cry about the ministry, and the condition of the church. We think the former is paralyzed by the latter. Let the church awake. But the church will only awake as individuals

awake; and it becomes us therefore individually to ask, How far have we limited the success of the ministry? Dear reader, is this your condition? Do you frequently neglect the ministry? Do you never pray with earnestness and faith for your pastor? Are you ever captiously finding fault with his ministry, and lowering him in public estimation? Are you living inconsistently with the high profession you have made? If so, you have been hindering the gospel of Christ and limiting the usefulness of your pastor. The blood of souls is in the skirts of your garment, and God is angry with you. Form immediately the holy purpose in everything to sustain the ministry, and a new era, we believe, will dawn upon and bless the church of Christ.

S.

WHAT IS CONVERSION?

BY THE REV. JAMES LISTER.

"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."-Matthew xviii. 3.

The apostles knew little of Christ's kingdom as a spiritual institution while under his personal ministry. Hence they put the question, "Who shall be the greatest in the kingdom of God?" Our Lord's reply was direct: "the humblest is the highest in that kingdom." He then places before them a principle of the highest moment,-a principle affecting not their rank in the heavenly empire, but their admission to it. Conversion is indispensable. No sinner can enter into the holy city except he be renewed. But what is "Conversion?" Let me attempt to give a brief and perspicuous reply. Conversion involves three great elements. The first is, Repentance towards God. The necessity of this to a safe state is evident from the whole current of revelation. Except," says our Lord, " ye repent, ye shall all perish." The spring and soul of repentance is godly sorrow for sin. Sorrow for sin as such implies a knowledge of God's true character, and of his law in its wide' requirements and its righteous sanction. This conviction of sin works more or less deeply in every penitent, as expressed by David in Psalm li.; Against thee, thee only have I done this evil in thy sight: my sin is ever before me;" or in the words of Job, "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Such repentance is always accompanied with confession to God (see Psalm xxxii.), by a renunciation of it, and by a sincere and warm desire of deliverance from its love and power. Impotence to escape from it is lamented and deplored (see Romans vii.), and recourse is had to a higher source for power to conquer. "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned." "Save, Lord, or I perish."

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I do not enter into the mental anguish which accompanies it throughout, or whether it be short or long, or into the impediments by which it is retarded, or the means by which the Holy Spirit commences and carries it Diversity in all these is very great.

on.

A second element of conversion, and inseparable from repentance, is, Faith in Jesus Christ. True faith involves

1. A belief of God's testimony to the person, and sacrifice, and righteousness, and grace of our great Redeemer. The extent and clearness of this belief will depend on the measure of light derived from the Word and Spirit of God. Faith involves also,

2. A cordial reception of this testimony, an approbation of the salvation, and of the method by which Jesus saves the sinner.

3. Faith involves an application by prayer to the Saviour for deliverance. Believing sinners look to Him, and they call on his name that they may be delivered.

4. Faith implies an adherence to the Lord for his blessings. It is not a solitary request for mercy which satisfies the believer. He feels the urgency and number of his wants, and lives daily by the faith of the Son of God for all his supplies.

Conversion involves, thirdly, A voluntary surrender of the convert to the service of Christ. Repentance has brought him out of the broad road. and faith has led him into the narrow way which ends in life. In that way faith and repentance bring to bear on the convert considerations the most powerful to obedience and holiness. Gratitude to the Saviour, a view of his love, a regard to his authority, a concern for his glory, a hatred of sin as the crucifier of his Lord, affection to his people and cause: these and other considerations combine to operate on the convert's mind to consecrate himself and his all to Christ and his service.

How important is genuine conversion! Regeneration is the name which marks it as the work of God in us. He works in us to will and to do; and we turn, and believe, and cheerfully consecrate ourselves to Him who has saved and called us.

Are we converted? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Have I seen and felt the sinfulness of sin, not merely as injurious to myself and to my neighbour, but chiefly as offensive to the great and holy God? Have I confessed and renounced it? Have I repaired to the Saviour for deliverance from sin, and met with a reception from Him who delights to save such, as has gladdened my heart, and decided me to yield myself cheerfully to his service? Am I now cleaving to Him, and seeking first of all His kingdom?

"YET THERE IS ROOM."

Ho! ye despairing,
Ye guilty, and vile !
See the kind Saviour
Look on you and smile.
He to his bosom

Invites you to come,
And doth assure you

That "yet there is room."

Room for the aged,

And room for the young;
Room for the feeble,

And room for the strong;

Room for the sinner,

And room for the saint;
Room for the healthy,

And room for the faint.

Room in his temple,

And room in his school;
Room for the learned,

And room for the fool;
Room in his promise,

So graciously given;
Room at his footstool,

And room in his heaven.

Room in his justice,

And room in his grace;
Room for the noble,

And room for the base;

Kettering.

Luke xiv. 22.

Room in his churches,

And room at his board;

Room for poor rebels

To feast with their Lord.

Room for the mighty,

And room for the weak;
Room for the Jew too,

And room for the Greek;
Whoever is anxious

From sin to depart,
Finds room in his mercy,
And room in his heart.
Room in his goodness,
And room in his love;
Room for the needy

His bounty to prove;
Room in his wisdom,

And room in his power;
Room at this moment,

And room evermore.
Room for the poorest,

And room for the rich;
For thousands or millions,
'Tis no matter which;
Room for the greatest,

And room for the small;
Room for the vilest;
Yea, room for you all.
J. JENKINSON.

Biblical.