pense, the wasting, severe and trying labours of travelling agents, may, by system, be measurably, and probably in time, entirely, saved None would more rejoice in such a result, than our faithful and laborious agents.

8. Another advantage of such a system is, that important objects at home, would not be crowded out by the frequent visits and importunities of agents, not acquainted with the situation and necessities of the particular congregation. There may be no danger-there is no dangerof doing too much for the salvation of the heathen; but there is danger of doing too little for the salvation of our own country of our near neighbours.

9. Last, but not least, among the advantages of system, we mention, that it is the Lord's own plan. Where general principles are laid down in the Bible, for our direction, it is our duty and our interest to carry out those principles honestly and consistently, so far as we understand their application. If we do not greatly mistake, we are clearly taught by the Holy Ghost to have a system, and stated times of giving, and to lay by us for the purpose, beforehand, as the Lord has prospered us. In following his directions, we may expect the blessing of God on ourselves and our labours.

Any system to be successful, must be vigorously prosecuted. Elders and deacons, but especially ministers, must take a deep and lively interest in it, and feel themselves responsible for its success or failure. If pastors feel this deep interest, and realize their solemn and awful obligation to attend to this, as well as every other duty of their office, they will be able generally to awaken a similar feeling and interest in the minds of elders, deacons, and private members of their churches. When the wail of a dying world, comes up upon their ears, and deeply affects their hearts, they will re-echo the sound in their people's ears, and awake a chord of tender sympathy in pious hearts; and all classes of real Christians, will know, experimentally, the blessedness of giving. The interest in the subject being deep and permanent, it will not be forgotten or thrust aside.

THE END.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ON THE

HEARTS OF MEN.

Ir has been true in every age of the church since the days of the apostles, and on the acknowledged principles of the Bible, it must always be true,—that in proportion as the people of God have honoured the Holy Spirit in his divine character, and have depended on his influences for efficiency and success, they have been blessed with his agency, and the work of the Lord has prospered in their hands. And on the contrary, as the church has practically disowned the Spirit, and has attempted to do its work independently of his efficient agency, it has uniformly become cold, and formal, and worldly, and has been left to the curse and the reproach of barrenness.

It is an interesting and striking fact, that the Saviour in his last discourses and promises to his disciples, made the character, and coming, and work of the Holy Spirit his great theme, and dwelt with special emphasis on it, in order to console and comfort them in the prospect of his own departure from them. He made him the great promise of the New Testament dispensation. On this subject his teaching was new and striking, and was intended to fix in the minds of his disciples high expectations of the spiritual blessings which would be connected with his descent upon them. They were taught to regard him, in his personal and divine character, as the quickening, indwelling, sanctifying, wit nessing and comforting Spirit of the church. Thus the apostles and primitive disciples of Christ did regard the Holy Spirit; and the works which he wrought by their instrumentality, abundantly testified, that the promise of the

Saviour was verified to them. It is really astonishing that, while the Saviour insisted with so much point and earnestness, on the necessity of the Spirit's influences to give success to the means employed by his people in building up his spiritual kingdom; and while the whole history of the church has been a practical commentary on this leading doctrine of divine revelation; the church should insist so little on this great promise of the gospel. The ministry of the gospel has been greatly at fault here. It is a matter of common and painful observation, that comparatively few sermons are preached on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit's influences; and, as might be expected, in such a state of things, Christians generally are contented with small measures of divine influence, and many seem to think that such scenes as were witnessed in the apostles' days are neither to be expected nor desired.

Our object is, to present such considerations in connexion with the Holy Spirit's agency, as may be useful in increas ing faith in the doctrine of divine influence, and in awakening a more ardent desire, and more earnest and constant prayer, for a larger measure of the Holy Spirit's influences, and more satisfactory evidences of his glory and power in our churches. Christians generally are not sufficiently alive to the necessity of the Spirit's agency, in order to their usefulness, as well as their enjoyment of the hopes and consolations of the gospel. While in theory they admit the necessity of his agency, they have not a sufficiently deep and practical persuasion of it.

In entering on the consideration of the work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of men, it is manifestly necessary to have clear views of the basis on which the Scriptures place this doctrine. If he be not God, we can have no confidence in the offices and works which we ordinarily ascribe to him. We cannot depend on his influences, unless we can scripturally maintain his personality and divinity. Low views of the dignity of his person, must of necessity be connected with low views of the necessity and nature of his work. If, for example, man be totally depraved, dead in trespasses and sins, none but God can create him anew in Christ Jesus. We, therefore, deem it necessary to present a condensed view of the Scripture proofs of

THE PERSONALITY AND DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

And, first, in regard to the fact, that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person in the Godhead. On this subject it may