interests of the Church? These are questions of solemn moment; and we are apprehensive that they have not been sufficiently examined. Means not expressly sanctioned by the word of God, should be viewed in their ultimate bearing, as well as immediate effects. We are confident that many are deceived by present appearances, who will become wiser from experience. It is inspiring to see crowds, day after day, pressing into the house of GoD. Converts, real or apparent, multiply like the drops of the morning. Sinners, callous under the ordinary means of grace, are awakened. Christians are full of faith and joy; and the preacher holds the vast assembly in admiration by his bold and novel manner of exhibiting the truth, and the skilfulness of his movements. Painful doubts, indeed, are revolved in many a mind concerning the machinery ; but the sensibilities become accustomed to the shock, and fear subsides into belief that the Spirit of grace is present, and that the end will sanctify the means. This is the bright side of the scene. But it has also a dark side. How many will lose their zeal when the exciting causes are withdrawn? How many will make a hasty and vain profession? How many churches will be prepared for disorganization, and the dismission of their pastors, from the demand for the so called "revival preaching?" The long meeting at last closes. The chief agent retires. The crowd of strangers disperses. The sick and the exhausted seek for rest. The great congregation has dwindled away to its former size. The children born and cradled in the tempest grow languid in the calm. They have little relish for ordinary food, and crave the absent stimulus. What now is to be done? The pastor, if it were possible, must not imitate his exemplar. This would be fatal. The

Evangelist himself, had he sufficient mental and physical strength, could not pursue his own measures in one congregation for a twelvemonth. And if the common means of grace are not adequate to procure the reviving influence of the Spirit, they are not adequate to preserve its reviving influence when procured by special means. We ask, then, what next? Who shall calculate on the benefit of ordinary medicine, after the most powerful has been exhausted?'*

No wonder that the Bishop was zealous for the distribution of the Prayer-book, when he witnessed such results as the above from the neglect of it, or, as the following, from its conscientious use.

The circulation of the Prayer-book among those unacquainted with it, has almost invariably tended to soften, if not to remove prejudices, and, in many instances, to produce a warm attachment to it. In one place, a well-organized and respectable Episcopal congregation subsists, where a year since there was not an Episcopal family; and many of the persons who compose it owe either their first serious impressions, or the confirmation of their pious principles and hopes, to the perusal of the Prayer-book with which they had been unacquainted, and which was put into their hands.' †

Extract from article in the 'Literary and Theological Review,' by Rev. W. Mitchell, of Rutland, Vermont.

+ Journal of Convention, 1818, p. 21.

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As the outcry against Bishop Hobart ever was, that he was not 'evangelical,' it is due to him to put here upon record his claim to that title. It is taken from the Christian Journal of this year, being editorial, and headed

EVANGELICAL PREACHING.

Those truths of the Gospel which characterize it as a system of faith, distinct from a code of morals, as a dispensation of mercy to man, through a Redeemer, may be considered as evangelical—as those truths which denominate it "glad tidings." The most cursory reader of the New Testament must perceive that the following truths are inculcated in every part of this sacred volume: -That man is in a fallen and corrupt state; that JESUS CHRIST, the Son of GOD, has made atonement for the sins of man; that through the merits of CHRIST only can guilty man be justified; that by the grace of the HOLY SPIRIT only can corrupt man be sanctified; that while the atonement of CHRIST is the meritorious cause of salvation, repentance and faith producing holy obedience, are the indispensable conditions of salvation, without which no man to whom the Gospel is preached will be saved; and that, in the exercise of repentance and faith, the merits and grace of CHRIST are applied to the believer, to his justification and sanctification, through his union with the Church, the mystical body of CHRIST, by the participation of its sacraments and ordinances dispensed by its authorized ministry.'*

* 'Christian Journal,' January, 1818, p. 31.

In concluding his address to the Convention he enlarged on the two points ever nearest his heart-missionaries to spread the Church wide, and a theological seminary to lay its foundations deep.

'But while my recent visitation of the Diocese afforded me many subjects of gratification, emotions of a different nature were frequently excited. I often heard earnest calls for the ministry and worship of our Church, which could not be gratified. And I saw fields ripe for the harvest, which were reaped by others, from our want of laborers to enter on the work. The indispensable importance of a theological seminary, and of provision for missionaries, more forcibly than ever impressed my mind. We now lose many young men of talents and piety, from our want of the means of aiding them in their preparation for the ministry. And even if the number of those who enter the ministry of our Church, were not, as they are, greatly inadequate to supply all the situations where their labors might be profitably exerted, a theological institution would be necessary, as the best and the only effectual means of furnishing our candidates for Orders with those acquirements which will enable them forcibly, eloquently, and successfully to explain, defend, and inculcate the truths of religion. Prosperous in many respects, as is our Church in this Diocese, her prosperity would have been tenfold greater, if we had enjoyed adequate means of theological education, and of missionary support.

To these objects then, my brethren of the clergy and laity, let me direct your zealous efforts, and beseech you

unceasingly to direct the efforts of all over whom you may have any influence. Your Church needs all your affection, all your zeal, and all your pecuniary means; and she deserves them all. In promoting the extension of this pure branch of the Church of the Redeemer, you will best advance the glory of God in the salvation of men; and faithful to the lessons of evangelical truth which our Church inculcates, you will save your own souls, while you contribute your part in the most exalted work of benevolence, the salvation of the souls of your fellow-men.’*

* Journal of Convention, 1818, pp. 21, 22.