principal counsellors to whom awakened and inquiring sinners used to resort, or could resort, for advice and direction. Even the public preaching of ministers of the gospel, some who were no doubt practically acquainted with religion, was not, it would seem, always the most seasonable and judicious. Mr. Rowland, a truly pious and eloquent man, being invited to preach in the Baptist church, proclaimed the terrors of the divine law with such energy, to those whose souls were already sinking under them, that not afew fainted away. On this occasion, how ever, his error was publicly corrected by the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, who, standing at the foot of the pulpit, and seeing the effect produced on the assembly, interrupted and arrested the preacher by this address: "Brother Rowland, is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?" Mr. Rowland, on this, changed immediately the tenor of his address, and sought to direct to the Saviour, those who were overwhelmed with a sense of their guilt. But, before this had taken place, the subject of the present memoir had been carried out of the church, in a swoon which lasted for a considerable time. It has not been ascertained how long her mind remained subject to legal terror, without any measure of the comfortable hope of the gospel. Her exercises, how ever, are well known to have been of a very violent and distressing kind. At one time she was brought near to the borders of despair, insomuch that she even refused to listen to the counsel of Mr. Tennent, or even to suffer him to pray with her, under an apprehension that it would but aggravate her future condemnation. In this state of mind she was visited by the Rev. Dr. Finley, who prudently waved a direct discussion of her case, but gradually and insensibly drew her attention to the all-sufficiency of the Saviour: " And who knows," said he "but there may be mercy and pardon there for you." He then left her. But the words "who knows but there may be mercy for you," melted her soul. They seemed to chime in her ears after he was gone. She fell upon her knees, and poured out her heart before God in secret; and she was enabled so to trust her soul into the Saviour's hands as to derive some hope of the divine acceptance, and a measure of consolation, from that time. She experienced, however, a number of fluctuations, before she gained any thing like an establislied peace of mind. It was at this period, that she, with a number of others, endured persecution for conscience sake, and were even excluded from their parents' houses, for considering and treating the salvation of their souls as the one thing needful. The subject of this narrative, during the time of her banishment from her home, supported herself by her needle. She had a sister who was similarly circumstanced with herself. They rented a room, and lived comfortably and reputably on the fruits of their own industry, and before their father's death, they had the happiness of seeing him fully reconciled to them, and of hearing him express his regret for the severity with which he had treated them. In 1743 a church was formed by Mr. Gilbert Tennent, out of those who were denominated the followers and converts of Mr. Whitefield. No less than 140 in'dividuals were received at first, after a very strict examination, as members of this newly constituted church. The admission of a large number more was delayed, only because their exercises and spiritual state had not yet attained such maturity as to afford satisfaction to themselves, or to the officers of the church. But among those received on the first examination was the eminent christian whose story is here recorded, and who was to be, for more than sixty years, one of the brightest ornaments and most useful members of the church with which she now became connected. [To be continued.] gleam scene. Of pensive twilight draws its dewy shade. THE LIFE OF SIMON PETER, THE APOSTLE. HONOURED as St. Peter had been while his Lord was on earth, he became, after his ascension, a still more distinguished character; and when the time was fully come for opening the gospel dispensation, and the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost, St. Peter was the first who exercised the ministry entrusted to him by Christ. It would be superfluous to pass any encomiums on the close reasoning and energetic eloquence with which he pressed on the consciences of his auditors, that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was Lord and Christ. The success which attended his discourse sufficiently proves its power and excellence: three thousand souls were converted to the faith; a circumstance which could not fail to encourage the apostles to prosecute, with unwearied diligence, the great work they had so happily begun. In contemplating the wonders of this memorable day, we are led to observe, that the mighty rushing wind and fiery tongues were only transient symbols. Other miraculous gifts of the Spirit, having accomplished the purposes for which they were bestowed, have long disappeared; nor are they likely to revive, at least until God bare his arm to bring his church out of the wilderness. Those, however, which constitute the very life of our religion remain. The enlightening, sanctifying, and consolatory influences of the Spirit, then shed abundantly on the apostles, are still promised to every believer; and how much are these to VOL. II. G be preferred to miraculous gifts! Let any one read the account of St. Paul's perils, labours, and sufferings, and he will perceive that even miraculous gifts were inadequate to such a warfare. They overcome not the world. They reconcile not the soul to want, contempt, pain, and death. Those supernatural weapons must have blasted the hands of the apostles, had they not been under the guidance of divine wisdom; had they not been armed with power from on high; and had not the effect of the Spirit's effusion been a courage, zeal, patience, disinterestedness, deadness to the world, and devotedness to God, far greater than human nature was able to exert. From this æra we read of no contests among them for pre-eminence; we remark no confident rashness, no intemperate zeal, no dastardly fear. Firm, tranquil, united, they exhibit their heavenly conversation with meekness of wisdom. They are the patterns of the doctrine they teach. For wealth they entertain the most perfect indifference; they seek no honour from man; they preach not themselves; and they ever speak and act, not as lords over God's heritage, but as helpers of their faith. For them, life has no allurements; the grave, no terror; death, no sting. They are crucified to the world and the world to them; their affections and conversation are in heaven. Here we lose sight of the fishermen of Galilee, and recognise the accomplished apostles, whose character, no less than their high office, stamps them the best and greatest of men. Such were the benefactors of the world, who, after planting truth, and peace, and righteousness among civilized and savage nations, to give new vigour to those noble plants, gladly watered them with their blood. Venerable names! ever dear to the true followers of Christ! Ye still live and speak, and your fires still, from time to time, warm the cold bosom of the fainting church. O Lord, arise and look upon the church! Bring us back into the old paths, and establish us firmly in the doctrine and spirit of thy holy apostles. We may remark, indeed, that a measure of the same grace which was bestowed on the apostles is necessary to every christian, is promised to every christian, nay, is given to every christian: and these sanctifying influences of the Spirit, though they are the most valuable of his gifts, and in themselves as miraculous as any; yet being thus generally diffused, and their presence being evidenced only by the effects they produce in enlightening, comforting, and purifying the children of God, and not by any new or wonderful manifestation; they are usually called common and |