ed for, a present view of the affect ing realities of the invisible world, and a proper sense of our dependence, unworthiness, and necessities. Nothing is so well adapted to lead us to pray without ceasing, as true faith, which implies a present, just, and ffecting view of God and heaven and the world of woe; and of the true character, condition, dependence and necessities of ourselves and others around us. What is falsely called the prayer of faith, may with more propriety be called faith in their prayers, feelings and impressions. But all such faith is delusive, vain and dangerous. Let a person give himself up to follow his peculiar feelings and impressions, and he invites the great adversary to lead him captive at his will, until by blindness and self-deception, he has destroyed many others, if not himself. It becomes every Christian, and especially every minister of the gospel, after the example of the discriminating and faithful in past ages, to lift up his voice against such visionary, dangerous and destructive notions of faith, and by de-cribing and enforcing the true faith of the gospel, lay the axe at the root of all fatal error and delusion And to those, who see the danger attending the late theory falsely called the prayer of faith, I would respect fully submit the enquiry whether it

species of Universalism? If God desires, all things considered, that all should come to repentence.nd be saved, or constantly have his Holy Spirit, and be perfectly free from sin; then it is just as certain that all men will be saved; and even that there is not, and never has been, and never will be, any sin in the world, as it is that God governs the moral world, and works in men to will and to do of his own good pleasure. But it is not true that God desires, all things considered, that all men should have his Holy Spirit, or that any man should have it constantly in this life. The moral imperfection of Christians in this life, will be the occasion of forever displaying the grace of God, and of exciting the peculiar and joyful feelings they will have in singing the "new song which none can learn but those who are redeemed from the earth." It is certain that the peculiar felicity of saints in heaven, will be promoted by their sinfulness in this life. And it is certain that the best possible system of holiness and happiness includes "vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction." And how many it is best should remain totally sinful, and how imperfect it is best for any and every saint to be, the all-wise God only knows But it is a matter of rejoicing that he knows, and that he has determined the charac

ter and destiny of overy individual. And no man can be holy, as he is holy, without perfect submission to his will, and choosing the existence of both natural and moral evil, in himself and others, in the same sense in which God does, that is, for the glory of God and the highest good of his kingdom. It is devoutly hoped, that every friend of true religion will see the necessity and importance of maintaining this ground, which only will enable Christians to stand against fatal

error.

5 If true faith founded on proper evidence, always leads its possessor to confidence in God and not in himself; then it is not strange that false faith, which is always founded upon error and delusion, has generally led its votaries to exercise a criminal and dangerous confidence in themselves. Some, under the influence of false faith, have fondly dreamed that they could forgive sins, work miracles, or reveal future events. Some, by means of false faith, have thought they possessed so much true faith, goodness, influence and importance, that they could promote true conversions and revivals, where, and when, and to the extent they pleased! Many, by this means, have been led to exercise such presumptuous self-confidence, as without the least fear to "rush in where angels fear to tread," pray without submission for any and every spiritual blessing they desired; direct infinite wisdom where, and when, and on what individual, or number of individuals, to bestow his grace; and with unheard of presumption, claim the fulfilment of divine promises in the particular manner in which they thought best! By trusting to their impressions and feelings, how many have been led

into the most astonishing and dangerous credulity respecting the professions of human beings, and the most exaggerated favorable reports which are in cire lation? What blindnessrespecting menand things, and the "signs of the times" has usually accompanied false faith? But how much soever, those, who are deluded by this false faith, may be deceived respecting others; they are commonly more deceived resp ctingthemselves. How often have they mistaken presumption for trust in God, fiery zeal for engagedness in religion, self-sufficiency for eminent piety, and self-seeking for devotedness to the cause of Christ? How often under the deluding and binding influence of a false faith, have persons, even in their religious exercises, their prayers and preaching, indulged in practices, not only disorderly and indecent, but absolutely immoral and profane? Such self-deception is never more prevalent, than in seasons of great religious excitement, and is one of the most successful means, employed by the great Adversary, to disparage revivals of religion. See Pres. Edwards' "Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New-England, 1740."

Finally. In view of this subject, let Christians live and walk and pray in true faith. This is the victory, says the apostle, which overcometh the world, even our faith. Every where in the Bible and in divine providence God has manifested that Christian faithfulness is the appointed me ns of procuring divine f vors. It is as true now, as it ever was, that God "will be inquired of by the house of Israel," before he grants his people signel favors. "By terrible things in righteousness," God has often answered the cries of his people who

heart. But whatever great and glorious events have taken place in answer to the faithful prayers and exertions of God's people in time past, by far more terrible and joyful events are yet to be expected. The long and obstinate and ungrateful war which mankind have carried on with their holy and soverign Creator, and his true church upon earth, is yet to be closed. And as much as this conflict has exceeded all others in its length, injustice and obstinacy, so much more unexpected, complete and terrible will be its termination. God will ere long arise in bis glory and majesty, and "shake terribly the whole earth." He will soon "plead his own cause," "avenge his own elect," and vindicate the honor of his great name. It will then be known whose cause is just, whose arm is almighty, and whose glory is above the heavens. And since God has connected means and ends; it is probable, if not cert in, that the faith and zeal and prayers of the righteous, will correspond with the greatness of their deliverance, and the joy of their salvation.

S. C.

as found in man, is obedience to truth. The real welfare of christianity, therefore, never can require that those who profess it should be ignorant of its princi ples; and, if the existing system of measures involves the necessity of such ignorance, it is so far radically defective. 'KNOWLEDGE,' in religion, as in every thing else, '18 POWER;' and the efforts of knowl edge in doing good, while they are incomparably less toilsome then the efforts of ignorance, are at the same time incomparably more productive.

That kind of

The consequence of such a state of things, is, that the religion of the present day consists too little in the knowledge of Divine Truth, and too much in the excitement of the animal feelings, and the corresponding movements of the lips and the hands. preaching which requires thought in the hearer, and is calcul ted to inform his mind, is in many places, from a mere unwillingness to think, ceasing to be popular; and it is therefore giving place to another kiod, which either merely excites his feelings, or informs him how he feels, or occasionally impels him to benevolent action.

The

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