hone whose object it is to spread scriptural holiness through the earth.

Should the reader consider these remarks rather digressive, I hope he will pardon them, as I was unwilling either to suppress the admonition which has called them forth, or to abandon it to the abuse of which it is susceptible.

From the time of Dr. Coke's appointment to the superintendence of the societies in the United States, his care was expected to extend also to those in the adjacent British provinces. With him, therefore, rested the authority to make such arrangements as he deemed best for the promotion of the work in that extending field of usefulness. Mr. Wray had for several years sustained a general charge in Nova Scotia, and being desirous to be relieved from the responsibility, requested Dr. Coke to appoint another in his place. The Dr., from his knowledge of Mr. Black's eminent prudence and piety, immediately nominated him as the most proper person to be Mr. Wray's successor; he was accordingly appointed superintendent over the societies in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. By this appointment Mr. Black felt himself placed in circumstances of delicacy, and was with difficulty prevailed upon to assume the charge. His views on the subject are unfolded in a letter to Mr. Wesley, which we subjoin, written, as will be perceived, before the preceding letter from Mr. Wesley came to hand :

"REV. AND DEAR SIR,

"It is now almost twelve months since I had a line from you. The multiplicity and importance of your other engagements, I know, will furnish a suf

ficient reason for this; yet permit me to beg, if you have a leisure moment, it may be employed in writing me a few lines. I have need of your counsel and prayers.

"It was matter of great surprise to me to find that I was nominated as the assistant. I would gladly have resigned the office to brother Wray; but the Stewards and Preachers opposed it. I am far from thinking myself qualified for so important and weighty a charge, and should be glad to be succeeded from England.

"At Halifax our people are lively. I think I may say they are growing in grace, as well as gradually increasing in number. Our society has swelled from about sixty to one hundred, since this time twelvemonth. At Horton they remain much as they were; at Windsor there are some additions; at Cumberland, also, some have been added: at Liverpool and Shelburne we have sustained some loss. I believe our aggregate number at present amounts to about five hundred. I feel much encouraged concerning Halifax: twenty have found peace with God within the last eight months, most of whom are steady, lively, humble souls. I am much comforted among them, and see great cause for thankfulness. How has God changed the scene, since I first came hither in 1786 ! The society is now eight times larger, and eight times more serious and spiritual. Though I have many struggles with unbelief and an evil heart, yet my soul longs for perfect love. O that my God would speedily destroy the remains of the carnal mind! Jesus is my hope and joy-my sun and shield!

My dear-my very dear Father, I remain, "Your Son in the Gospel,

Halifax, Dec. 2d, 1789.”

"WILLIAM BLACK."

The diffidence with which Mr. Black assumed the responsibilities of his new and important office, was no unfavourable omen. By the prudence and zeal with which he discharged its functions for more than twenty years, he shewed himself every way worthy of the trust reposed in him. His eye was single, his judgment discriminating, and his love to Christ, such as in the martyrs glowed; while the conciliatory spirit he uniformly exemplified in his intercourse with his brethren, resembling less the studious practice of an inculcated duty, than the spontaneous flow of the native affection of his heart, secured their reciprocal confidence and attachment.

CHAPTER XI.

THE BEST EVIDENCE OF A DIVINE CALL TO THE MINISFROM MR. WESLEY-MERCIES RE

TRY-LETTER

VIEWED AND FRESH

RESOLVES FORMED-ADVAN

TAGES OF ORDINATION-SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION -ANOTHER LETTER FROM MR. WESLEY-MR. BLACK ATTENDS PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CONFERENCES-INTERVIEW WITH DR. COKE OBTAINS SIX PREACHERS FOR NOVA SCOTIA-REMARKABLE REVIVAL UNDER HIS MINISTRY IN NEWFOUNDLAND-DIFFICULTIES IN THE SOCIETY IN HALIFAX-VISITS ST. JOHN, N. B.-HIS FIDELITY EXPOSES HIM TO PERSECUTION-EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MRS. BLACK.

THE best evidence to a minister that he is called of God to preach the Gospel is the conversion of souls by his instrumentality. He may arrogate the honour of being a successor of the Apostles, and he may exhibit all the credentials in vindication of his claim with which man can furnish him, and after all be nothing better than an intruder into God's heritage-uncalled, and totally unqualified, to call sinners to repentance, or to edify the people of God in their most holy faith. That repentance he may possibly himself never have exercised -of that precious faith he may be entirely destitute. The ministry of none, probably, has in a spiritual view been less efficient than that of those who have been most remarkable for their assuming and exclusive pre

tensions as the only divinely authorised ambassadors of Christ. The remark may seem invidious; but we are conscious of no other feelings and motives in making it than pity for the souls to whom it may prove most painful, and concern for the interest of evangelical truth; while, we believe, the history of the church, from the days of Constantine to the present moment, furnishes a continuous, illustrative comment on the truth of the intimation. We mean not to insinuate, that all who believe themselves to be (in virtue of the safe transmission through human hands of the seals of the holy office) in the unbroken and exclusive line of apostolic succession, are purely on that account to be looked upon as alike devoid of spirituality of character, and of valid ministerial authority. We hope better things. And we know there have been, and there are, in intimate ecclesiastical association with those who put forth such claims, many of the brightest ornaments and most successful heralds of the Gospel. But of these, what is the joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not the souls whom God has given them? What are the most valued seals of their mission? Are they not the unequivocal tokens of the divine approbation that enable them to appeal to the people among whom they labour, that they ARE the ministers of the Lord Jesus? How does St. Paul magnify his office by this moral demonstration ! "If I am not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord." Such heart-cheering evidences of the power of the Gospel, and of his call to preach it, were increasingly afforded to Mr. Black, and nothing but such evidences could satisfy a mind like his. He was 'enabled to make the following communication to Mr. Wesley relative to the pro