Five convicted and converted in a Day.

requirements, we are met with his blessing; when unwilling to comply with the conditions upon which salvation is offered, we are rejected. God is not man that he should change, neither is he a respecter of persons. With Israel on Mount Ebal, and on Mount Gerizim, we pronounce our own blessings and curses; for, alike with them, the course which we pursue will draw down just such results as God hath pronounced on the characters we sustain.

But God is love; and it is my desire to encourage you in the assurance, that there will be no delay on his part in meeting you on the ground of the promises. Within a few days I have seen this exemplified in the experience of five persons, in whose awakening and conversion I have been most deeply interested. Neither of the five, I have reason to believe, were really awakened until the day on which I addressed them personally relative to their danger out of Christ. On the same day on which they were convicted they were converted. I believe one had previously attended church occasionally, but the others were habitual neglecters of God's house and worship. They were convinced of the necessity of seeking God with all the heart, if they would find him; and of the uselessness of expecting to find him, unless they came to this decision. I placed this view of the subject prominently before them, when they first promised to seek the Lord. "If you knew

you were to die before twelve o'clock to-night, you would be very much in earnest, and feel that you had no time to lose," said I to one. "Yes," was the reply. I said, "You would not, in that case, seek God with more than all your heart, and unless you seek him just as earnestly now, you will not find; for he has not promised to be found of you until you seek him with all your heart." The same evening on which this conversation occurred she was converted.

I knew an individual who, for years, felt the need of salvation to a degree that imbittered all earthly enjoyments. He was not only willing to come out from the world, but gave most unequivocal demonstration of his unwillingness to be conformed to its Spirit. It was cause of much prayerful concern with me, that one so sincere, and in earnest, should so long remain in this state, and I sent for him to come and spend an evening with me, hoping that the hinderance might, in some way, be ascertained. Nothing seemed to throw light on the subject, until at the close of the interview I said, "Mr. S, have you never felt it to be your duty to join the church?" With a decision of manner, which told just were his will was strongly fixed, he replied, "That I will never do, until I know I have religion; for there are backsliders enough in the church now."

"This," said I, "is just what I believe you will

Joins the Church.

"Give me thy Heart."

have to do, before you get the witness of your acceptance. Yes, you will have to do it; and then trust the Lord to keep you. To do otherwise implies a distrustfulness which must be displeasing to God," I added.

The next night he came out under circumstances of unusual publicity, and said, "Such and such were my views, but now I have made up my mind to unite with the church." This was on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning, Jesus, the resurrection and the life, raised his soul to the most joyful assurance of renovated nature, even the enjoyment of a life of faith on the Son of God.

A variety of eases might be given, illustrative of the faithfulness of God, and of the effects resulting from faith and obedience; but I must close with the relation of one which, I hope, may be suited to your case:

An individual, after various expedients in reading, fasting, and praying, at length came to the conclusion that it was too late for him to seek salvation; that he had sinned beyond the limits of mercy. While in heaviness he was thus reflecting upon his sins, the text, "My son, give me thine heart," came to his mind. Can it be, thought he, that God makes such a requisition of me as this? He knows what a heart I have, how hard, how polluted, how unfit for life or for death; and yet he says, "Give me thine heart." What can he

A Heart given to Christ.

want of my heart? He wants to make it good; to create it anew; to wash it in the blood of Jesus, and to make it a temple meet for the residence of his Spirit. "I dropped my flail," said he, (for he was in his barn at work,) "and prostrating myself upon the straw, I said, 'O Lord, if thou canst accept of such a heart as mine, here it is. I give myself to thee just as I am, a poor, vile sinner.'" Instantly he was saved; and so wonderful did the plan of salvation now appear to him—so new, so suited to the condition of the lost-that it seemed as if all his life had been spent in the dark; and he was affected to tears, that no one had ever thus explained to him the way of salvation.

Yours, in Christian love.

No. IV. TO MR. M

Sincerity and earnestness not sufficient to insure salvation-An illustration of how faith is the gift of God-How to show fruit meet for repentance-An error in presenting petitions for awakened persons-Lad on the roof of a building; he is saved-The man near a cataract; not saved by doing nothing.

TO MY FRIEND MR. M

"By faith I lay my hand

On that dear head of thine,
While like the penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin."

O that you might thus see all your sins on Jesus laid! It does seem to me, that all you now need

is the exercise of simple faith; that faith which appropriates the merits of your Saviour to your own case. If sincerity, earnestness, or a willingness to come out and confess Christ before men, were sufficient to bring you into the enjoyment of the favor of God, without appropriating faith, such had been your happiness now. Though, without these, your efforts to exercise faith would be unavailing; yet these, though most fully developed, would utterly fail in securing the object without faith. But you ask, "Is not faith the gift of God? and can I have it, unless it be given me from above?" No! "Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights." But does not God give you the faith now required? He is not a hard Master. The command, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," would be unreasonable, unless the power to be obedient were given with the command.

Imagine that you were embarrassed with pecuniary liabilities, hopelessly beyond your resources. Now suppose you have a friend of unbounded reputation and wealth. His name commands universal confidence; his uniform bearing toward you has been that of benevolence and love; he hears of your distress, and writes you word, "I have taken your liabilities upon myself. I knew of your inability to pay; I have therefore paid the debts contracted: and now I am not merely willing