gottsgwOtztt, DELAY or ANSWERS TO PRAYER. A human teacher would not have ventured to use such' an illustration as that of the friend' at midnight in otir . Lord's parable. Here the man obtelqed hhinquest by sheer force of importunity; ores it is literally in the origine4. l "lhis sheillkelesimess,” a gersistget olb&ate, that, it „aMeanted dace •, this alone 'made his success. AAA all this to illustrate'•,raper 1 Any onliless confident and in the poWer of his teachingthan Christ, would have feared that he would be misunder stclod, and thtit a false impression of God would be produced: Not so our Lord ; the truth to be taught was 430 important, that it needed to kbe sharply conveyed, and He had no apprehension that a mistake would be mid% and it was not. No one under stands from the parable that God can be worried by prayers into granting what He would - rather not give; but the world of believers have learned from it that God would have men wait upon Him in prayer till they have a true appreciation of what they seek, and a 'clear and fixed impression that the an swer comes from Him alone. How little do men understand the greatness of their requests ! We come before God, and how flippantly we ask foethe mightiest blessings, mentioning them carelessly, and by the way, as if they were very common place, when, in fact, they may be great as the universe. Take, for example, our daily petition for forgiveness of Bill. One,might say that, for the most part, and from the lips of the most who pray, incomes only as a suitable rounding up of a prayer ; not that it means Much, but that the service would not be quite complete without it. " Forgive ns 'our sins P' What a re quest is this ? It has in it all other blessing& Not to have it, would` be to be wretched in a universe of good. Would you know what forgiveness is ? Go, uncover the mouth of the pit, and ask the sufferer who wails in his despair amid the ungenchable flames, What it would be to be forgiven. How he would start up at the mention of the word in 'a delirium of joy 1 To him it would be the, unlocking of his prison house; it would be to step out« from the outer darkness, to' have done with the wailing and gnashing of teeth, it would be to rise, into the sun-light of God's favor And of life eternal. Were it possible to tisk at all, hewould - ask in, no thoughtless , way, but with an intensity of earnest ness, that would , break yonr heart.. . But he cannot ask it. ' You can. Need you wonder that the sense 9f forgiveness does not often%and.edriey come? Yon ask it often so carelessly, because you do not know its worth ;, because you' dO not ,know V‘iw'sNieet is to feel forgiven. to have the cloudy consciousness of sin gone; to . be in the sweet, calm, clear sunlight of God's favor, to have a conscience unburdened and only speaking words of joy i to Your heart. Suppose, now, that you should begin to see how good it is to )03 and to fen]. yonpiielf•forgiven, and s h ould how bpfore God a ..very ileep consciousness that, this was more;; ; important than all beside ; now you would not think it easy' to obtain, you would not be surprised at delay. You, would ask, you would importune, and the more you-'would'ask and '','the longer you, would wait, the larger and more precious the blessing would seem. The delay would 'make' it seem priceless.. And when, at last, it would be imparted, how you would lie there before God, with heart' bursting with joy and a mouth filled with song andAratitude. This is but a type of all the rest. Our Heavenly Father delays His an ewers till we haie some proper thoughts of the value of His gifts which we seek. Given too soon' and. gotten . too easily, they would seem of little worth. The im portunate prayer wrung from a conscious necessity, makes them great enough to prOse Him for, when:they come. Have you ever thought how difficult it is for God to keepmself before even those who pray to Him , ? . He delays His answers on purpose; that He may be seen and recognized in His gifts. If they cometi a nd too , C, o.soon early, they would not-seem' from Hifn at e all. See how it is with inteshipe. . Is there in all the world of seen things anything more wonderful' thein light? Suppose you had never seen light, and should for the fink look upon a . dawn ; chould behold the l'aint gray streaks of something str4nge in the east, and then soon the faint, rosy blush, growing deeper and broader, and shooting up among the stets, and by-and-by the golden gleam, and suddenly the effulgent, blinding disk of the sun snrging up ; and as you tattled froM its insufferable brightness, you should see the stars all gone, and only the- light blue dome and white clouds above you, and all. around' a world of beauty ,you never imagined: green trees, many-hued flowers, faces suffused and glowing in the ruddy shin ing ; seeing all this for the first; yoU would fall down iwe-struck, unable to speak .your wonder or your joy. God, the.great God! how wonderful in power, how beaktifal, how glorioub, how good in His work! But light is very com mon; and not one in ten million thinks to praise God for it. It =comes without asking. Oar Heavenly Father would not, be forgotten. Ton ask soup.) : good',• fropi Him. If yon alanild receive it on the first asking, you would-:.in a little while forget that God had anything to dolvith givOg it put it does not ,come as soon as you • have asked. You ask' again. Perhaps it was a careless asking before. It - is more earnest now, bat the answer is not given. Yon wait'and you ask again. It seems very necessary to. you .„ T You have. looked elsewhere } but could not get it ; it seems, as At did not at -first, 'that God slope must give it. Now you go to Him ' T again, pnsyyott:'Alegin to im pertune Ann forAp fayor. _lt is,"..a y good approach, it brings' you , 'near but still he delays His answer. Now you ask again; you besiege .His'thfrone, with ionr. requepta,:,,perhaps; w4h your, tears.;, you have forgotten nowuallcrea ture,nid.; you la& only to film, fdi He only can impart thegood you seek: In some.blessed hour the reggest is granted, and you rejoice in .the,•boon. Will you, .:now think 'that you got it yoniself ? That It came . of itself ?• you doubt that it is all from God ? you will always' think. And ,why,? Because GOd delayed, and because yon got it through your importunity. F . W. A. WILIZINGIVN, June 21, 1866. A WHOLE FAMILY LED TO JESUS. BY REV. EDWARD PAYBON HAMMOND I have ju3t, been reading, with the deepest interest, two letters from a gen tlentan and lady in Springfield, 111., tell ing how they were brought ,to Christ. It will be seen that God used.theit little children to get thCm thinking about their soul's salvation. To photograph 'the family group, I should like tninsert the lettersyeceived from the children 'of these parents, but this would take up too much Town. It is now about two months since they found peace in believing, and last Sabbath I heard this father stand up , in the presence of not far from five thou sand people in Springfield and tell the story of his conversion. The ldtters are only-quoted in part SPRINGFIELD, April , 24, 1866 On your arrival in this city, my curiosity was very great to attend your meetings. I • never dreamed that any beneficial results, would:be produced upon me:- knew I was wicked; but, as I looked around on mytChris tian.friends, I concluded, that in many things I was no worse than they. My husband laughed at my recital of some of your sayings. I said, "Do go, just for curi osity, and judge for yourself." He did, the next dair, for a little while, and spoke of it afterwards as a circus. I did not go again until the third day. By that time, three of our little family had found that they lovcdithe blessed Jesus since you arrived, and my dear husband . and myself were still without the peace which we-both • required. - You mina to me in, 'the ..gallery and spoke a few, words; they , pene trated deep into •my heart, and still all was darkness' within. In a moment, Mr.. Burch, our minister, came. I could converse more freely with him. He plead with me. "Do try," he said, " and give your heart to your Saviour." 1 saikk! lam willing and Waiting; but Ido not know:ho*. Whatanu.st Ido to be saved? I know lam a great' sinner, but I cannot see how I can be anything else." "Go home," he said, " and pray. • You don't know how many ' are -praying for you:" 0, that touChed me. " Ask Him," he'cbntinued, " to, take•yoii just as you are, and He will do it." I did; I prayed all night, slept none. 0, - what a night that was! ,As the day dawnedp a light broke in upon my, soul.) felt as though Jesus had indeed--takery me , in His arms, And 01. I was 5Q :happy.: )And when Mr. Burch came in the'next day; as he had promisedil was all joy for 'myself, bank , " dear husband;was still withat the Saviour's Asklay aftei , day passed; I.sawhe loved to. linger atmeattimes, and.listen 'to= the cow versation abSitt you and the meetings; for we could• talk.. of nothing else. 4.t last he consented to:attend Sabbath eve. I wanted so much he should rise witlithe anxious ones; and as I arose with the young converts,' and. you asketothersto rise :.,for the prayers of Christiana- I .toughed him, but he - did not move. My' -leart , sunk within me. 1 spent another sleeplessnight. I arose from the bed and fell on my knees, and prayed and prayed; The prayers were answered. The next eve; when he cameto tea, he was deeply convict ed. He soon burst forth in tears and pray ers; said we had no idea what a burden he had carried all that day—more than he could bear. •Tears rolled down his manly cheeks, and the struggle within him was terrible. I tried to convince him how easy it would be to throw himself at Jesus' feet and say, 0, Jesus, take memiserable sinner, as I am, and that he would •find relief; but a. cloUd seemed to hover before his vision. He went that night to meeting bowed with anguish. He stood up among the inquiring ones. , Many came and conversed with him. • Your words seemed to go straight to his heart. He said, " I feel happier;" . and before we reached home all was bright, and Co I how we rejoiced. -We have now , a whole family in Christ, blesied be His holy name! We have established a family altar, and now, we ask your prayers that we may be strengthened. From your dev?ted fiiend, * The above letter is fall of instruction. 0, that every wife in the land might, like this lady, spend a " sleepless night in prayer.", It Would not be j lorig . ere their hearts would be made glad in the assur ance that God is the Answerer of wrest ling prayer. But the following letter of the husband shows how the Midnight prayers were answed:-- My wife and children attended 'our first, meeting. The children were delighted; bit the wife carricaturCd your manner very amus ingly. The orderg were, No more such non sense for our children—it will excite them too much. Their minds could not bear it--tbey would certainly, be in an asylum very soon, -if allowed to attend anymore. But: still' they continued to go, for I concluded if others went, mine had as strong minds as any other children. • My wite soon got over her Prejudices, and instead of laughing, the theme wag, "Have you been to the meetings? 0 P do go and hear and see for yourself. I promised to go that afternoon. 1 staid about half an hour ; told - my brother-in-law thatrl had been . 'to the circus. Where? Over atithe State House ; that it might suit children; butiit was too silly for me. My children were. converted, they said. I laughed at the id'eatf &Wen know ing anything about each things. -My wife had become more intereated;' Lind' all were urging me to attend the adult meetings. My THE AMERICAN PRMOYTERJAN. , .TiivAsDitky, JIMY : 5, gif6. boy said, " Father, why can't we have family That hurt me. My worship, like aunt Di—?" " You can, my son, but,l can't pr9y." wife, on one occasion said, " 01 why don't you come out ?" I told her, "I can't see it." She said, "If you believe the Bible, you will have to sometime, if you _get to heaven." There is a deal in that, "you will have to, sometime." I became provoked if they were not at home punctually; I scolded;, in fact, everything Yeelt wrong. I was miserable, Myself. Tb gratify my wife, I attendedthe open-eir. Meet ing. At the night meeting. in the hall, I sat 'h i ehind, , a pillar in-the gallery—dia not want you or any one else to ! see, me ; but One did see me.... 1 felt His presence. When you called for young inquirer's to stand ,up, I would not—something . sai d I mnit.- 2 1. would not'Yield. My dear wifeVrged me, but no; 'the devil 'said no. Mr. Burch talked to me. I repulsed hint rudely: I wanted to get = out 'of that piece, and insisted on my,wife leaving immediately.- I felt awful=my heart - seemed to weigh a ton. , .1 went to bed—bu% no, sleep .for • me. In the morning, mY'wife asked me how 'rested? "0, first rate." I did not want her 'to know 'I Was touched: She said she' had a terrible night: I knew it ; my wickedness . was the - Cause. I could not bear my burden longer; I must relieve my - mind,. and told my. feelings to my family. I rcried bitterly, and they cried in sympathy. Yet my sins bore heavily upon me. The next day was elect?'on. I thought I could alleviate my suffering about the polls, And have a good time as usual. But no; my heart was not in it. I went to, prayer-meet ing next morning, and stood up, and asked Christians to pray for me. I thought the words would strangle me. I felt a little lighter, but still a great cloud overshadowed me. 1 prayed all day, and rejoiced when meeting time came round. Heard but little of the sermon—was praying the beit I could with myself. Many talked to me, but I could not see the way. You spoke to me— prayed with me—told-me to give all up to Jesus. I tried; I did, that night on my way home, and blessed be the Lord; my load was gone `in a moment ! 0 ! how easy it seemed— how easy it is—if we will only believe Jesus and give' ourselves to Him just as we are, just trust him, and quit doing ourselves. Do you ask, Are you happy? Well, you would think so, to see six of us around the family altar, lifting our hearts to God for his kindness and love. It is strange, how blind the human family are, that they will not be lieve the holy word of God. My prayer is, that you may not find as stubborn a sinner as I was. Pray for me, and may God strengthen you in your glorious work. Yours in love and truth, R. W. D. LETTER FROM MONTANA TERRITORY. BARRAGE. CITY, MONTANA TERRITORY, May 17th, 1865. Rnv. JOHN W. Mnats, Philadelphia, Pa : Dear Brother:—My object in pen ning the following article is twofold. First, to give you a good account of the Rev. Geo. G. Smith, sent to this field from one of your' Prosbyteries, to labor for the cause of Christ; and second, to litY before your people and the Chris tian churches the religious wants and destitution of this eitensive, and at the ptesent time most attractive, region of the 'United States. • Although I have been raised in the M. E. Church, and have .nov special claims on your paper, yet it seems to be my duty to make known to you the fol lowing facts, for , there is not, to my knovredge, - fi . Tfesbyterian preacher `in MonttpfN.nor,? n y o ne who is better ac. quainted' with Bkothbr Smith than` My self. While I am. writing this letter he is, perhaps, wraps in:his blankets, in sweet slumber,'or meditating around the camp fire,, peering into the bright blazikot ihe Pine; studying , the Tanniful images of the burning .coals,mages of friends and &Ted ones at :home; and now his cheeks , flash with joy. as he anti4pat;es a hiippy, m.eeizng and again mingling aesociatesd, now they , grow his eyeAs sad' at-he' half , regrets 'that ever lhft hiswbrk or, pe i yhaps, he is' Praying:forifielp over, in Mhntana ; or, may-ba; •he is pacing.toimd fro, on guard, to protect the camp ' from hostile Indi ians. Morning comes, and in mountain phrase, eVerything ie businhas,—a hot cup of. coffeh, a 4lice of bacon, and a bis .cuit are eaten, and the train moves on that carries . Brother Smith to. Fort Benton, where he will take a boat for " America." Still he is surrounded by many dan gers. The region through which he passes is infested by the , Bloods, Pie- gaps and• Sioux Indians, who are very treacherous and hotitile. We pray that the Lord will protect'him by night and, by d a y ,The first year, Brother Smith labored in 'Bennack, and always drew al good audience. The new and extensive dis-, coveries of Last Chance, Silverißow,' 0-ermart and Freh,,Fh "Galches, Blackfoot and Cophir,ica,4Sed so many of the miners. to " stampede" from this camp, that he deemed it a More profitable use of his time to 'pieaell where the, people were the most humerhus, and means for building a chureh most easily obtained. He started out to visit and preach at the different camps, taking Virginia City on his way. At this place, unexpectedly, he focihd an opening, and went to'work, organized, as he had done here, a, Sun day-school, and, finally, a church, to which he earnestly devoted his whole ability, besides teaching the colored people, of evenings. indeed,, though laboring against great difficulties," he left no opportnhity for doing good un improved. The following notice is taken from the Democrat, a secular paper published in Virginia City It is with .deep regret we learn that the Rev. George GI. Smith, pastor of the Presby terian Church of this city, is about to leave for the States. Mr. Smith is one of those quiet, unassuming - Christian men who attend to their own finsiness. He is a. devoted Christian to the4cause 'he has &gouged, and has spent nearly every moment of his time in his calking. Ho'hea an ili_t l ecestiog,school of colored adults. - He' has taught them their letter's and some arellow so far advanced as to be able al read thelau, ared page for them- REV,. G.. G. killrrH. selves. Mr. Smith has labored . most zeal ously for the cause of Christ, and general good of the community in which he lives, fOr besides his regular studies,-he either teaches or preaches every night in the week but one; thus making the most of his time for the public good. He will be much missed in the community, and all true friends of religion should remember him well for his work and labor of love. We understand Mr. S. is at Eliq l temporarily, with a prospect of soon returning. We hope he 'will remember' the interests , of Montana, and to that end we *ish him-God-speed and a' safe return to his mountain.home. . I can say more. <Having prayed with limoind , eaten with him, and conversed with him, and slept , with him, and la bored in the common cause oftiurblessed *aster with him, and worked in the mines with him to gain our daily bread, I therefore know his heart, that it, was entirely devoted to the cause of re ligion, that he lived a consistent Chris tian, and, won the esteem and good-will of all who knew him. THE RELIGIOUS WANTS OF MONTANA are immense. 'There is scarcely a camp in the Territory that is now provided for by the Christi an churches, except that the Catholic priests have organized societies in the cities, and the Rev. A. M. Hough, of the M. E. Church, is located at He lena City, Last Chance, and at this time a pions father of "the mother" Church is on the Montana boats, coming up the Missouri to visit this field and their mis sions, which have long been established among the Indians. Where is the zeal of the Protestant Churches ? Long before any other white 'men, the Cath o- lics traversed the Rocky Mountains, and planted missions among the Indians, and not without some good results. Are there any men among you of ability who can give up places of ease and profit to swim swollen streants, to face the pelt ing blast of winter_ when the thermome ter stands fifty below zero ? The Meth odist, Church used to have such physical and mental heroes, but they have had their day, and dyspeptic young preach ers, in fine broadcloth, very effeminate and delic,ate, with their brains stu f fed with much theory and great learning, and but little capacity or practical ability, have taken their places. Ido not speak disrespectfully, but common sense will tell you that such cannot succeed in this country. Emigrants are at this time crowding every thoroughfare, and travelling to the new Eldoradoes by thonsands, and new and rich diggings are constantly being discovered, and the country becoming more and more attractive as its vast mineral wealth and agricultural resources are being developed. At Bannack we have no minister to break to us the bread of life ; the gates of Zion are closed ; the Sabbath is un observed ; religion is untalked of ; and :instead of prayers and praises on the Sabbath the enemy assembles his hosts at a * saloon to have a baochanalian " spree," and drunkenness., and cursing are seen and heard on every side. What is true of this camp; in this spect, is tenfold more , so - of. all news mining, camps and populous cities in new miiiirig 'countries. Preachers of the Gospel are also needed at Virginia And Nevada cities; at 'Heleria, Last Chance • at Diamond City, Confederate. Gulch ; at Blackfoot City, and at a dozen other, new camps in the Blackfoot country ; also at: Grer, man, Silver • BoW; and French A:niche's and surrounding camps. Besides these, ,Some 'of =the agricultural districti "are ,populous enough, and destitote , of reit gious privileges. There' can be, nd'rea tionabie ddunt that the Galletan Valley `would :support 'a preacher after the first year. Men of talents, of strong natural gifts; physically, sound and capable of endur ing f privations, who can suit themselves to the customs and habits of honest mi ners and bold mountaineers, are the men we need. These people pride themselves on their manhood, and often hide under a rough exterior fine natural endow ments; and no fashionable preacher, dandy, or milk-and-water minister would be acceptable to them. Indeed, a man of the Peter Cartright style, who would " take down" a bully, would be esteemed by them, if he lived as a Christian should, proving his doctrines by his deeds. Where board is from. $l4 to $2O at' a common "ranche," and washing a dol lar *piece, the preacher must make his own bread, chop his own wood, and wash his own clothes"; or, in mountain language, keep his own "ranche," (boarding-house or inn.) It is useless to mention a thousand other obstacles and discouragements, but we will come to the conclusion at once. Can you send us any young or middle-aged man full of the vigor of life, of resolution and the Holy Ghost ? We are praying for help. Do not say, " There is time enough yet. That next year will do." Listen to the words of our Saviour : "Say not ye, there are four months, then cometh , harvest ? Behold, I say unto you: Lift ,up yoar eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." There is a Cornelius here and there, praying and saying, "Come over unto Macedonia and help us." Montana is the Macedonia of the United States at this time, and a Peter or a Paul might hear our cry, and " come over and help us." Respectfully, Sei s tura, F. PUNLAP He that has light within his own emir breast May nit in the centre and enjiliy, bright day., But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts, .11enighted walks under the midday sun; Himself is his own dungeon.—Maton. "CHILDREN OF WRATH." Little given to the reading of systems of theology and much to the study of the . Bible, I have come to feel that " what we are to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man," is far better learned, and in better and more just relations from the very words of Holy Scripture, than from the best 'humanly devised nchemes of doctrine. -Indeed, I bave.the strange notionthat philosophical system or theology argued on: ;rational grotinds, and arranged in logibil &del., is just 'the worst for* of that "science, falsely so-called," which St: Paul warned Tiinothy against. When I am told by . admiring, pitpils,, that this or .that profei3sor's scheme ofmeiaphyai 7 cal.theology.ie so perfect, and d ovetails so completely in every part, Lam sure that it, is just so far false or imperfect; and I wonder at the logical stretching, and squeezing, and patching which must have packed the great and but partially revealed things of God in this perfectly logical and human system. It is no wonder then that, when I stumble upon or overhear, a printed or spoken discus sion of some point in speculative divinity, I am often amazed at the use made of some simple and innocent text of Scrip ture, dragged in by the ears to sustain, by its testimony, a dogma created by the human theory and called for by the logical necessities of the system. The expression " Children of Wrath," from Eph. ii. 3, has been so often and so confidently quoted in my hearing to sus tain a theory which demands that it shall mean the " wrath of God," that I have often been driven to look at it again and again, to see if, in all my reading of the text, I had missed that which is essential to its meaning. I ask attention, therefore, to a few considera tions, which assure me that there is no such meaning in it as that which is put upon it; and that whether the doctrine supposed to be based upon it be true or false, this text has nothing to say about it—that the expression does not mean " children of God's wrath." 1. The form of the expression does not require it. This is the - only instance —if it be one at all—in which a mental or moral characteristic thus associated with the phrase " children of" is to be applied to some other person or persons tho those denoted by the term "chil dren." In 'the preceding verse . (Eph. ii. 2) and elsewhere in the same epistle (Eph. v. 6,) we have the. expression "children of disobedience," evidently meaning disobedient children, and surely nob " children 44 God's disobedience." So, " children of pride" (Job xii. 34,) are " proiid children" or proud persons; " children of transgression" (Isa. lvii. 4,) are " transgressors," or " transgressing children," or persons who transgress; "phildr t en of wickedness,")(2 Sam. vii. 10,) are "wicked children ;" " children 'of iniquity" (Hos. x. 9,) are " iniquitous children." • . Thes . e . a.re, . all the instances in -the Bible of an.identicaLfurm of expression, and; they; show that, Al the expression i tv before us is properly-rendered children of terath.," then the 'teing is ks ' rath ful children," or persons of wrath: al ci?dis position; aid halit no reference stover to the wrath - of God. 2. Bat the ' word ' d not h wor " does _ m ean "' " wrath.", The Greek word t s ren dered. is+ , 0 4,0zE. Liddell .a t Scott render Oaacc, " impulse, feeling; hence the... temperament, disposition, temper, especially in the plural, soeiat disposi tions (with' astunomoi)." As secondary meanings 'they give 4 any violent emotion (27 Paision, ;" and finally, as we say either that a nian is "in a passion," or "in anger," so they give "anger, wrath" as remote and 'derived meanings, because anger or wrath ,is a violent passion. Another and still more remote meaning is "fear." The word is used with nearly all its shades of meaning in the New Testa ment. St. Mark (iii. 5,) says that our Lord " looked round about on them with deep emotion (not anger) being grieved for the hardness of their hearts." Here, surely, is not " wrath" with the " grief" but the tender yearning of a pitiful sorrow. St. Lake (xxi. 23) says, " There shall be great distress in the land and fear (not wrath) upon this people." St. Paul (Rom. iv. :15) writes, " The law worketh fear," (not wrath), as con trasted With the "promise" which gives hope. ` Sb,(Ron3. xiii. 5) we are exhorted to submit 'to the political authority of the wilt "not only for fear but also for cons lance' sake.'? There are other instances in which " passion" wonld,be as good a rendering as "wrath" or " anger," althoughno false impression is made by the latter. Bat in the text (Eph. ii. 3,) which we have specially in hand, the Apostle's ar gument requires the original meaning of the word, as passion" or " impulse." He contrasts their former with their pre sent condition, motives, and character. " In time past" they were "dead in tres passes and sins," now they are alive unto holiness; "in time past," they "walked according to the course of this, world," , now they walk in the ways of the heavenly world; "in time past" they served the "prince of the power of the air," now• they are subjects of the Prince of Peace; '" in times past"• they were companions of the " children of 'disobe thence," now they are "created unto good 'works;" "in times past" 'they sought to satisfy the, "lusts of the flesh" and the " wills of the ,mind," bat now they, seek heavenly things "in heavenly places inflhriat Jeans;" .and finally, they were formerly " by nature children of , PASSION 01 111PU7.EIB," as well as " children of disobedience," being led by their lusts and passions and fleshly desires, but now they were guided by principle, and faith, and Divine grace. But, whatever may be the meaning of the word in this place, it is plain that it denotes a quality ' or characteristic of the persons mentioned as " children," and not the disposition of God towards them. If "children of pride, transgression, wick edness; iniquity, and disobedience," are :protsd,' transgressing, wicked, iniquitous, and disobedient 'children, or persons, * then " children of wrath, or passion, or impulse, or anger," are wrathful, angry, passionate or impulsive children, and not, so far as this text is concerned, the sub jects of God's anger, or wrath, or venge ance. D. G. M. M`CHEYNE'S DESIRE TO BECOME AN EVANGELIST, In an English edition of " BURNING AND SHINING LIGHTS," by Rev. Robert Steel, containing among many others, a brief biography of Rev. Robert McCheyne, we find the following pertinent remarks with regard to the peculiar work of evan gelists : Mr. McCheyne took part in this evan gelistic • work, and dispensed the Lord's Supper at Huntly, amidst deep impression. In some parishes around Perth the shower also fell, and in the south of Scotland also. It could not fail to be observed that those ministers who - had prepared for their holy work along with Mr. McCheyne, by earnest prayer and intense love for souls, received copious blessings.. Newcastle-upon-Tyne was visited by Mr. McCheyne and others, who still labor with success in the Lord's vineyard. Many souls were awakened there. So marked were the effects of the efforts made at that time, that Mr. Mc- Cheyne had a desire to be set apart as an evangelist, that he might go through all the land and preach in every parish. There is no doubt that such an agency is calcUlat ed to be very useful. Dr. Nettleton was eminently blessed of God in the work, and were every church to get a man so single minded, so, judicious, so highly-gifted, for his work as he, the sooner evangelists are commissioned the better. Many ministers would be revived, and many congregations stirred. We need, the extraordinary to give new impetus to ordinary means. The prophets of the Old Testament Dispensa tion were such, and by their instrumen tality was the Church often revived, and ordinary means of grace made. more lively and effective. It is somewhat surprising that such an agency should not have been constantly maintained in the Christian Church, when we consider the great com mission intrusted to it by the Lord Jesus. It seems more needed now than ever when so many have fallen from church attendance. We sincerely trust that suitable persons may be found for so momentous a work, and that the churches of Christ may see the propriety of setting apart qualified evangelists. With the stamp of the Church and the confidence of pastors, the labors of such devoted men could scarcely fail to be productive of great goOd to the congre gations of regular worshippers, and especi ally be useful in arresting the attention and winning the souls of thoie who have been careless of eternal interests. But we have already insisted on this in the sketch of Asahel Nettleton, who gave himself entirely to the evangelist's work in Ameri ca, and whose labors God blessed to the conversion of many thousand souls. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DUNK - ARDS. ?rom a correspondent of the German _Reformed gessenger we take • the follow ing interesting facts : , This meeting ' was 'held, according to an nouncement, on the farm of Mr. Jacob Price, aboutoone mile and a half north. of Waynes boro; Franklin county, Pa. It commenced its sessions on the 18th of May last, and closed on the 24th. It was composed of delegates from all their churches scattered throughout the United States. These delegates were lodged by the people residing in the neigh borhood, but all were boarded on the ground. Extensivepreparations were made for this purpose. 'Tables were erected capable of seating one thousand persons ata time. These tables were covered with canvas, forming a huge tent, Here also their business transac tions were held. Nokonly were the delegates and other members fed, but also the whole multitude, whosoever desired to partake. This was done in imitation of our Saviour's feed ing five thousand on one occasion, and four thousand on another. But, unlike those. oc casions, instead of a few loaves of bread, they consumed about sixty barrels of flour; an instead of a few fishes, about eighteen fat beeves, besides an immense quantity of hams, butter, apple-butter, pickles, and coffee. The business transactions commenced on Monday. These consisted in rendering de cisions on the practical 'questions that the times and circumstances constrained them to consider. One question was, whether it was right to adopt the habit of voting, in order to arrive at the sense of the .majority, and thus come to a decision on any subject. The question was answered in the negative, inas much as voting 'was acustom that belongs to the world. The manner in which they come to decisions is something like this:—A com mittee of fifteen is appointed,' to whom all questions must be previously handed. The committee then 'refers each question to a sub committee, which sub-committee frames a decision to the particular question referred to them;-being approved by the committee, both question and answer are then presented to the assembly through the president there of, who at the same time asks their opinion. Their approval is manifested by nodding, their disapproval by shaking the head. When any signs of disapproval are manifegted, dis cussion ensues ; but yet the answer previously given stands, and the president pronounces it passed. Some of the questions thus decided at this meeting are the following: Shall we receive colored persons into the Church, and shall we salute them with the Holy kiss? It Was decided that they . shou d be received into the Church, but that all the members were to be left to their own choice and taste in regard=to 'Saluting their colored brethren, with the understanding, however, that all who refused to do so were to be regarded as With. One of their members out West leased 'Piece of ground to an agrivaltural.societyfor it - number of years. Was it right tbr him to do so? The answer was no I as he thereby helps foster the spirit of pride. What has to be done with the offender, has not transpired.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers