mighty power of God, as there displayed. I never saw the tenth part of such a work before. Before the preachers began to speak, the power of God came down. Hundreds of sinners began to cry aloud for mercy, and saints to rejoice, and pray for them. We had no other chance to preach to the people than by taking part of them into the woods at a distance from the cries of the rest. I suppose the congregation consisted of at least five thousand souls. I cannot attempt to give you an account of the particulars, but leave you to judge. Scores of sinners lay as in the pangs of death. It was thought that in this and the other quarterly meeting, held nearly at the same time, there were five hundred souls converted to God. On two or three circuits, within two months, about one thousand souls have found peace with God. Saints stand on the mountain top. Glory! Glory ! Glory be to God that I ever lived to see this day in Virginia! I am happy continually in God. I now feel the love of Jesus streaming down into my soul. Glory! Glory be to the dying Lamb for ever!

"R. G."

The autumnal months of this year were principally occupied by Mr. Black in visiting the societies in different parts of the province, particularly those of Liverpool, Shelburne, and Cape Negro. Important and successful as those labours were, it would be difficult, as they exhibit no incident of an unusually striking character, to exempt a minute detail of them from the tedium of monotony. His most absorbing engagements in other places, could never cause him to forget the society at Halifax, concerning which he naturally cherished throughout life a pastoral solicitude peculiarly

intense and vigilant. On the receipt of the animating letter, an extract contained in which has been given above, his mind instinctively flew to his beloved flock at Halifax, and was drawn out in the most fervent aspirations for their felicity and increase. Denied the opportunity of giving utterance to these feelings personally, he wrote to them from the fulness of his heart the following letter :—

To the Methodist Society at Halifax.

"SHELBURNE, Nov. 28, 1787.

"MY DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS,

66 Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. The Lord knoweth that I love you, and long for light to surround the path in which you walk. Next to the light of my Redeemer's countenance, I count it my greatest joy to see you engaged for God, and the good of your souls; 'walking in all his ordinances and commandments blameless.' O my brethren and sisters, let religion be the business of your lives ; let it go with you into every company, attend you in every place, and it will preserve you from all evil. Wear it as a chain of gold about your neck; esteem it as your brightest ornament, your greatest glory. Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her self-denying paths are peace. She is a tree of life to every one that layeth hold of her, and happy is every one that retaineth her : for the merchandise thereof is better than the merchandise of silver; and the gain thereof, than fine gold. She is more precious far than rubies; and all that can be desired are not to be compared to her. Do you desire honour? Let it be the honour that cometh from God only. And what, my brethren, can be equal or com

parable to the honour of being the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation-of being made priests and kings unto God for ever and ever? And such honour have all the saints. Do you desire riches? Let God be chosen as your chief good, and you are in possession of the pearl of great price, even durable riches and righteousness. Covet to be rich in faith and good works; so shall you be rich in the favour of God and the comforts of religion here, and ere long, in the possession of a kingdom that cannot be moved. Would you be safe from fear of evil, exempt from all alarms ? Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." So shall he hide you under the shadow of his wings, and cover you with his feathers; he shall be your defence, your munition of rocks. You shall dwell on high; bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure. Though thousands fall at your right hand, and ten thousand at your left, God shall be a wall of fire around you: no evil shall come nigh your dwellings. But, oh! should you love the world, pamper the flesh, and indulge the low temptations of Satan, you will send your souls down to perdition. Give then, O! give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. Seek after bright manifestations of the love of God, and continual communion with him. Provoke one another unto love, and to good works; and let me entreat you, by all means to stir up the gift of God that is within you. Use all the means of grace, private, family, and public prayer; reading, hearing, and meditation on the word of God; fasting, abstinence, and self-denial; christian converse, brotherly exhortations, and class-meetings. In future, my dear brethren, let us neglect none of these things. Some

of you are backward in attending your class-meetings. Should I say wrong, were I to intimate the reason is, the spirit of watchfulness, of prayer, of self-denial, is dying away in your hearts? I fear I should not. If your hearts are entirely given to God, I cannot but think you will yet see good days in Halifax, and such a work of God as you have never yet seen. O, let us pray much for it. I bless God I have had profitable and delightful seasons since I left you. Brethren pray for me, that I may be faithful unto death. To make the hearts of sinners rejoice, and as matter of encouragement to mourners, I send you the following account of the work of God in Virginia. [The above extract is here inserted; he then continues.] O ye saints of God, is not this good news? Mourners! is not this glad tidings? O come, come to Jesus, and see the salvation of God. O come, His grace is free for all, for you. Now, even now, his arms are open to receive you.

Brethren! Pray that the heavenly gale may blow upon the dry bones in Nova Scotia's vale. Methinks you already begin to pray; and while you are yet calling, the Lord answers-' I will cause my Spirit to enter into them, and they shall live.' Amen-even so, Lord Jesus.

"I am, dear Brethren,

"Your servant in the Gospel,
"W. BLACK.

CRED OFFICE-MR. BLACK'S MEEKNESS-HIS ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS-LETTER TO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW-SUCCESS OF HIS LABOURS-HIS EARNEST DESIRES AND EFFORTS AFTER INCREASED HOLINESS AND USEFULNESS.

AMONG the means to which holy men of God have in all ages resorted, for the purpose of promoting the divine life in their souls, they have found the renewing of their covenant with God at certain seasons eminently influential, in detaching their affections from earth, quickening their spiritual desires, cherishing a watchful and devotional frame, and impelling to a more faithful discharge of all the duties of life. Whether by an act of solemn dedication to God we should recognize our obligations to render uniform obedience to his laws, is a matter not left to our arbitration. The duty to do so is imperious, universal, and immutable. It is prescribed by the highest authority, and enforced by the most tremendous sanctions. In the "exceeding great and precious promises" by which God has graciously engaged, by the continued exercise of all his perfections, to promote the felicity of his people, we