Original. THE ITINERANT. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the works of the Lord; for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."-ST. PAUL. THERE is, perhaps, no situation calculated to impress the mind with a deeper or more salutary sense of the changes and vicissitudes of life than that of the itinerant preacher. Besides having himself no "abiding place," he is called upon to witness the changes and sympathize with the sorrows of a new community each year. The young disciple is sent out on his first mission at a time of life when his Christian zeal is warmest and his natural sympathies the most lively. His destination, over which he has no control, does not always fall in "pleasant places." On arriving at his station he may perhaps find outward things unsuited to his taste; also, the state of his Church may be such as to fill him with inward disquietude. His people may be lukewarm, and without religious sensibility. Here he feels he shall have much to suffer and little to enjoy. Yet "he has a great work to do." He arouses himself to fulfill his mission, and straightway preaches the Gospel with all earnestness and godly simplicity, and trusting in Him whom he serves for the "quickening of the Spirit" in his own good time. He labors on month after month, perhaps, without any encouragement-his words seem to have fallen upon their ears without profit. But perhaps at the eleventh hour, and near the close of his term, some one poor lost sheep is brought into the fold, and over him he rejoices as do the angels over "repentant sinners." Another, and yet another, is awakened. His heart now burns within him in behalf of his people-he trusts that their salvation is nigh-that this is the beginning of good things-the earnest of a blessed revival. But just as his labors are to be rewarded they are at an end. Another will reap where he has sown. The year has revolved, his term is out, and he is again called to go-he knows not whither. Still he "goes on his way rejoicing," that the fire has been kindled before he leaves them, and he prays that it may run from heart to heart until there remain not a Laodicean worshiper amongst them. Such is the devoted, self-denying life of the true disciple of Wesley. But, alas! "all are not Israel who are of Israel." Many years ago, and when the Methodists were few and scattered, and looked upon as a fanatic and "peculiar people," I visited one of the interior villages of New England, which, like most other places in the land of the Puritans, was remarkable for its strict observance of the Sabbath, especially in those places where the Presbyterians prevailed, as was the present case. That sect observed each Sabbath as a sort of half fast daytheir two first meals being always spare, and, like the Jewish Passover, "eaten in haste"-their din ner, even in winter, presenting nothing warm but the tea or coffee-meats they had none. There is no idle conversation while partaking this frugal fare, and no lingering at the board when they have done. Now again they repair to the afternoon meeting; and here every thing is conducted with such sanctimonious ceremony, that one scarcely dare turn the eye in any other direction than that of the pulpit. And when the services are over, and the congregation dismissed, there are no greetings at the door; for these really good people think nothing is reverently done on the Sabbath that is not done with quietness as well as order. The religious duties of the day being over, each young eye instinctively turns to the west, to see how high the sun yet is; for when it shall have sunk below the horizon, holy time will be over-the household will resume its occupations, and the whole current of life again flow on without restraint. Then, too, they partake of an abundant and cheerful meal, after which, perhaps, the old lady takes her knitting work, and the old gentleman the newspaper, whilst the young ladies are sitting in the parlor expecting their attendants to escort them to conference mecting. This is marked by none of the stiffness of the day meeting. These customs were all new to me; for at the time of my visit I knew little of the usages of any other Church than the one in which I had been educated-the Episcopal. Of the Methodists I knew nothing. I had never seen but one of their preachers-Lorenzo Dow; and his personal peculiarities I supposed common to the sect. In this village they had a small frame church, near the bank of the river. This house was carried away by a freshet during my visit, and floated, apparently uninjured, into Long Island Sound-a distance of some fifteen miles. After this loss, that society was obliged to hold their meetings in private houses; and although the sect was less numerous, they were no less zealous than at the present day. Their meetings were now held in the midst of the village; and as it is a matter of course that wherever there is found a zealous Methodist minister there will be some noise, curiosity was excited, and many would linger around the house to listen who neither desired or dared to enter it. At length a number of young fashionable girls formed the design of attending one of their evening meetings, for the ostensible purpose of learning some of their tunes, but in reality to gratify their curiosity as to their mode of worship. I was invited to join with them, but declined. As this scheme was to be carried into effect without the knowledge of their THE ITINERANT. parents, one after another gave out, until there remained but three hardy enough to follow it up. They were all young and gay, full of life and laughter; and they were somewhat fearful that they should not be able to restrain themselves so as to behave with proper decorum whilst there. Still they did go; but they were sobered before they came out. And when I saw them the next day, they appeared disturbed and uneasy, and said they were sorry that they had not, like myself, staid away. All the people, they said, had frowned upon them, and the minister prayed for them. The room where the meeting was held was small, so that they were distinctly seen as they entered, and their dress and deportment made their motives in coming distrusted at once. They had previously agreed to join in the singing; and when the first hymn was given out, they all turned and looked upon each other and laughed slyly, not irreverently, but to signify that they must all strike in at once. This was misunderstood by those around them, and soon all eyes were resting reproachfully upon them. The preacher, too, looked at them earnestly, but they thought less harshly than the rest. He was a young man of rather prepossessing appearance, and his dress was more conformed to the primitive Methodists than is that of the young preachers of the present day. The plain way in which he wore his hair, the absence of any thing approaching to fashion, and the cut of his coat, all proclaimed him a true Wesleyan. He was as zealous as he was plain, and preached the Gospel with great earnestness. When he made his closing prayer, he forgot not the intruders. He prayed, if there were any in that little assembly who knew not God, and would incline to make a mock of holy things, that the Lord would forgive them; "for," said he, "they know not what they do ;" and lest the enemy of souls might get the dominion over them, he prayed that the Savior might cast upon them the look that he cast upon Peter, and that, like him, they might go out and "weep bitterly," and finally become his true disciples. This prayer, which was breathed with the pathos of deep feeling, touched them, and left a lasting impression upon their hearts. Years after, one of them acknowledged to me that she doubted not it had had a conservative influence upon her life during those years when the young spirits are most apt to lead the heart astray. 101 gone; the sanctuary in which he used to worship But there are other changes, not visible to the eye, in many instances. The poor have changed places with the rich, and sickness and affliction have been at work, and death has been no respecter of persons. Our preacher inquires for his three intruders, and his heart is pained, while his spirit is made glad by the answer. One had been many long years resting in the Christian's graveanother was in the hospital for the insane, her mind having become unsettled by studying too deeply the prophecies, and searching into the hidden things of God. These had both become decidedly pious before they were twenty years old; and although neither of them became Methodists, they were both awakened to religious things by the faithful and fearless prayer of that young itinerant. The third one, he learned, was still unconcernedly clinging to the world. He prayed that she might yet be cleansed, and, like the leper, turn and give thanks to God. He was cheered, and measurably satisfied in the thought that he had been instrumental in turning two out of three from the error of their ways. And as they had been unwilling hearers, he said to himself, "I must never, under any circumstances, neglect to admonish in season and out of season.'" My readers well know that, according to the system of Methodist itinerancy, it not unfrequently happens that after a lapse of years the same individual may be again sent to the same station. It is then that he feels the most painfully the muta-eousness' sake." The time we trust is passed for bility of human things. He gazes around, and all things wear a strange look-old faces have passed away-old landmarks have been removed-even But these trials are trivial, and only noticed as recollections; for they bear no proportion to what may be accounted "sufferings" for "right ever at least amongst Christian nations--when persecution shall arise against the preachers of "Jesus and him crucified;" for however sects may 102 THE RESURRECTION. disagree in points of doctrine, none surely can claim the title of Christian who are hostile to the spread of the Gospel, and to its teachers. And it must be a consoling reflection, (thanks be to the itinerancy of grace!) that it has been already spread so far; and, still more, that its influences shall, with the blessing of God, henceforth not be measured by districts and lands, but that the good spirit of faith, imparted from father to son, may go on to people our hemisphere, even to its western borders, with light and life. Many savage tribes, we rejoice to learn, are even now "coming in." And may their evangelization and civilization be simultaneous and co-extensive! And may not it be a fair hope that those who have accepted the "temperance pledge" at other hands, may, at their's, accept a "pledge" of far greater importance-even that which shall preserve "both body and soul" eternally! The time may not be distant when, as our young traveler would read his map, and retrace his journeyings, he shall see no dark spot thereon; and as far as population shall have penetrated, so far shall the "ark" have been borne by the hands of a faithful, devoted, and persevering itinerancy. AUGUSTA. „Where India's silvery waves had beat, And turned each gem and diamond o'er, To find the source of bliss complete: The search was vain-not on its fairy ground, Nor 'neath its deep blue waves could it be found. The coral's home in turn was sought, Far off, in glowing southern lands, Though golden shores illumed each passing wave, With impress of celestial birth, At length I found the welcome boon; Though tarnished by th' adhering earth, A heavenly lustre round it shone-Soft whispering voices spoke its lasting fame, And FRIENDSHIP was the priceless jewel's name. Original. THE RESURRECTION. BY WILLIAM BAXTER. "Twas evening. On Judea's vine-clad hills The gales of even sported 'mong the leaves, sense, And waking thoughts worthy of Eden's bow'rs. Far off, in grandeur, Lebanon arose- 'Twas the calm hush of eve-all round was still: On the light breeze, through groves of date and palm, Then in the plain died noiselessly away. On his brow A crown of thorns, as if in mockery, Still night was closing round, THE SAVIOR. Ne'er burst upon it since creation's birth, A scene from which the sun himself shrunk back. The tomb is closed, the twain have left the spot, Now up the steep a Roman guard ascends, Their spears and helms flash in the moon's pale beams, As slow, yet firm, they seek the rocky tomb. The soldiers' crests reflect his fading rays, 103 He lives to cheer his friends-give smiles for gloom— Original. THE SAVIOR. BY HARLEY GOODWIN. "Whom having not seen ye love."-1 PETER 1, 8. THO' we have not seen the Savior, Yet, believing, All his character was lovely, Spotless, innocent, and pureMeekness shone in all his actions, While he insults did endure; Yet, undaunted, He rebuked his proudest foes. He, kind Messenger of mercy, Healed the sick, the lame, the blindDried the tears of friendless sorrowCalmed the wild distracted mind Went with sinners, To instruct, reclaim, and save. In his final scene of suffering, While his anguish they deride, He asked pardon for his murderers— "Father, O, forgive," he cried, "O, forgive them; For they know not what they do." Sinners, this is your Redeemer, On the cross he bore your guilt, And, to save your souls from ruin, His own heart's blood freely spilt; O, then love him, For he gave his life for you. JESUS, I'LL speak the honors of thy name With my last laboring breath, And, dying, clasp thee in my arms, The antidote of death. 104 REVIVAL INCIDENT IN NORTH WALES. Original. REVIVAL INCIDENT IN NORTH WALES. BY B. W. CHIDLAW. THE anniversary of important events forms an interesting era in the progress of human life. To the Gospel minister engaged in the arduous duties of his high and holy calling, the retrospect "of times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," affords strength in the conflict, and encouraging hope for the future. If, amid present toil, the joyous shout of triumph does not thrill his ear, and swell his heart, his eye may be fixed and his soul enchained to some hallowed spot--some scene of by-gone conflict, when the deep laid entrenchments of sin in human hearts were summoned, assailed, and demolished-when souls redeemed, and sins forgiven, were the trophies of glorious victory-and when the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ was indeed declared to be the power of God. It is reasonable, natural, and Scriptural to rejoice in the advancement of religion, and the salvation of sinners. No event that transpires on earth can claim a comparison with the redemption of the soul. The genuine, soul-saving repentance of a sinner, is an incident of such magnitude and importance, as to be observed with commanding interest in heaven. Angelic hosts, catching the benignant smiles of a triune God, are filled with rapturous delight; while the redeemed in glory strike anew their harps of gold, that another heir of hell is made a child of God; and why may not the saints on earth partake of heavenly joys? To hear the anxious cry, "What must I do to be saved," bursting simultaneously from more than a hundred tongues, giving utterance, in tremulous accents, to the deep anguish of as many souls convinced of sin, is an incident never, never to be forgotten, but always cherished with unfeigned thanksgiving to Him who causeth us to triumph through our Lord Jesus Christ. On the last Sabbath day of 1839, the writer witnessed a most powerful and gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in an obscure village among the mountains of Wales. The sanctuary, where the people of God for centuries past had been accustomed to assemble for divine worship, was an immense edifice, gray with age. Its location, in a deep glen overlooked by towering mountains, had a solemn, soothing influence upon the mind. The gathering of the people, the song of praise, the voice of prayer, and the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, alone broke the silence that reigned around it. This had been the house of God and the gate of heaven to hundreds-here, during generations past, souls had been born of God, and born for heaven. But for the last fifteen or twenty years the demon of division and discord had reveled on its prosperity. During this unhappy period, the professed friends of Christ, instead of making a common cause against the powers of darkness, exhausted their energies in unhallowed strife, and souldestroying animosities among themselves. Such a state of things was followed by the most fearful and disastrous consequences. The peaceful Dove took its flight from the noise and confusion of brethren falling out by the way, and the once flourishing and efficient Church was left for many years to the withering blight of Divine abandonment. Like the sturdy forest oak shriveled by the scathing fires of the lurid lightning, the Church at L stood among its sister churches a monument of God's displeasure against the sin of strife and division among those pledged to love one another. For twenty years the ruinous results of such unchristian warfare were fully developed. All the interests of spiritual religion declined—the youth advanced to manhood unconverted to God-the conservative and recuperative energies of the Church were lost in the angry elements of strife. Zion was clothed in the sad habiliments of mourning, while desolation filled her borders. In the autumn previous, the brethren, who had been ejected by civil law from the house of God in which they and their fathers had worshiped their Maker, obtained a peaceable repossession of the chapel, and once more within its solemn walls they mingle their songs and prayers, and hear the words of life from the lips of their venerated and faithful pastor. This was the auspicious dawn of a brighter day. The friends of Christ, the few and feeble, again rally under the banners of the bleeding Lamb, and take their position on the tented field. Strengthened by the love of Christ constraining, they cast the stumbling blocks out of the way, and labor for the salvation of souls. Pastor and people shared the toil in preparing the way of the Lordtogether, in cordial and efficient co-operation, they repaired the breaches in the walls of Jerusalemaddressed the mercy-seat, and in faith looked for the blessing. For some time, the female members of the household of faith met together for prayer, and free religious conversation. This was emphatically a "new measure among the people of God; but it proved a most blessed and successful measure in the revival of religion in the hearts of Christians, and in the hopeful conversion of sinners. These transatlantic sisters had heard of American revivals, and of pious females prevailing with God. Knowing that such besiegings of the "throne of grace" by their American sisters, had been so signally blessed, in their emergency they were ready to adopt any means sanctioned by Christian practice and not forbidden in the Divine word. How |