1. 1 0 4 nor Altscatt au PITTSBURGH, JANUARY 2,1858. TERJIS. 6 in advance; or in Clubs g L.U1311 or, delivered at residences of Subscri. hers. .1.75. Sae Prospectus, on Third Page. lit F.ll EW A L 8 Should lie pro/EVIL; kin little while before the year expires, that we amity make full arrangements for a steady supply. THE RED WRAPPER indicates that we _ Madre urenewV.`• Zr, how e ve rilw the kiwis et mailing, this signal should ha °Minted, we hope our friends will still not (Omit us. 1111111ITTANOES.—Send payarant"brinfe hands, when convenient. Or, wind by yeah, enclosing with ordinary cars, and troubling nobody with a Itnowledgani' what you are along. par a largo suapyralit ssnd a. Draft, or large notes. loor one or two ympirr; sand Gold sr. Waall notse. • ; TO FARE onamoz, rind postage stamp's O 1• better stills send for Rimy. ,paporry lay $l/ or Sovontrunailbersi or . VI ; for Thirt r rikroo lirosaberth DIRECT an Twatters Otidi COMMOttitiltitilittol/4 to REV. DAVID KoKIIINIGY: Pitt sidurgh" Pa. • WANT or Mrsuarrits.-10ur Church has about seven hundred vacant congregations. Where ,are ministers 'to ,be found ? 'Where is their snstentation to come from ? , 'What is the duty of the large and wealthy toward' the small and poor? . ' Tom' : Pussurrunxiix QUARTERLY E t *: *Tuiv:The DeceMber number' of this' high-. er organ of New ~,School theological intlu once, contains some valuable article& Itti contents are—l. John Wickliffe.; 11. The Settlement of Maryland; The Office of Deacon ; IV. Theory of Public Wor ship; V. Exegetical view of Rom., viii: 19-28; VI. 04turch Poetry and Music. The Seminary at Danville. Rev. Stephen Yeikes, called by the last General Assembly to the Chair of Oriental and Biblical Literature in the Theological Seminary at Danville, wan inducted into of fale on the,l6th oi.December. His address on the occasion is spoken of very .favorably by the Presbyterian Herald. It is-'to be publithOd. • The'Board of Directors have ordered the session to close ten days earlier than tuntal, so that it report may be sent to the, next Assembly. There are about forty students in attend ance. 'he Presbyterian Expositor Is a monthly ieriodlcal, published at' Chi , cago, under'', the editorial care of Rev N. L. Rice, D. D., pp. 56; price $1.50. "Its leading design is to explain =and defend, in a manlier adapted to popular reading, the doctrines of the Gospel, and expose the va rious iornis of religious error which prevail in the country." = The first nuntber is be fore us. It is a very able and very judicious commencement of the executing pleasure the "design." We anticipate much pleasure from the reading of this journal, and much benefit to. the Church from ,its publication. We commend it to of r readers, and ask for it an d extended eiroulation., The aitlole On on Calla, in the present number, presents some very impor tant thoughts -to ministers. , The Day. of Pasting and. Prayer. The, late Convention of Synodsiat this place, recommended 'the, observing: of the, _First Thursday in January •as .11, -day of FASTING AND ..PRA.TER. The desire of the' Church isi , thatwthe Lord ',shall revive bin Work. :This accords` with his promise, but for 'Ulla he must be entreated, humbly and importimately. God's - ministers and people must not give up, diScOuraged -fiy delay. Tivy must Bold on to' a throne ,of Grace, dgerrained not. to retire, nor be silent; 'till they, are r 'blessed. ,God; will- bear and an!. ewer' the prayer of faith—the day and night cry of his 'elect.. 0 that We"could berdeep ly humble and intensely anxious. if the blessing is not bestoWed, the huh is in pur aging, ,We must ever` pray; and we must reform and wnMustpreach and hear ' , Along ,nth plainness and dir,etfuess in preaching Christ an the Sa.Viorir of sinners, let pastors; abound,:in private conversation, personally calling the unconverted ; and let the pious speak often one to another, and to the impenitent, man men. God will, bless the tendernestke deep anxiety truth thus brought, home tC,,,t.he individual heart.. He will bless. Bath said it, and he Will , do it. The New Year. A• happy New ;Year to all - our , readefi: May the Divine favors be , abundant to each one ;` in temporal things so far as God will samitify:them to the ,riceivir'S real "I:ienefit, and in spiritual good, According to the .riches of the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And, now, we Wish to entreat'yotf _ fellow-Laborers. We wis h you . to 'roue* your subscriptions, fully. and`promptly. ,We wish you to increase the numbers in every congregation. We' wish you to procure for tut new lists. We labor hard, and expend much money, • to make our jouinUl . trily valuable, a coadju tor to the pastor, and a yeasnio in the family. We put the price low, very low, that it may. be, within the reach of a 11.., We cannot af ford to pay agents a round , ' sum to canviies, for us. Neither can we tender "handsome premiums, for large lists; nor pay pastors, in dollars, for a eel-Vice done for us. All snob things, must, , necessarily, come from the people ,in the 'end. They must: either -diminish the -value of the paper, or-enhance its price. '• " • ' The religions weekly in the family, is really,, and without any exception should be, apart of the food of the flock. It then .belongs• to the Shepherd's pleasant work, to facilitate the acquisition of thii fOod. We hence aPPOO to Our brethren, bothminis — iere elders, on principle; and earnestlj , en treat their, cooperation; and we expect the greater success for them,> and the greater benefit tii'the'people of their charge, from its belug iirident, l -t i bat what they do is not for gain's sake, but is a lam of love. , • Oin , a religious paper liye on this pried ple ? We irotdd APeriment A Reviikng Time• Nearly a year ago, (January 10th 1857,) we directed the attention of our readers to an investigation of the thought, whether, in God's Nord,. and by analogy, and by the history of the gracious outpourings of his Spirit, there was a season of the year which might properly be regarded as a REVIVING TIMa. We have been asked, from a quay ter which demands respect, and the request has been repeated, to reproduce the article. If the idea is correct and another twelve months' observation has strengthened the evidence, it is one of very great practicil importance. But we do not yet set forth the proposition affirmatively. We still but suggest. Our brethren will weigh and de aide. If any are disposed to exclaim; " What! Periodical 'Revivals !" we urge it upon such to see to it p that they have a per petnal revival. But if they cannot have a constant shower, let them not despise a sea. son of out-pouring; if they may not enjoy a daily feast, let them not slight the tender et an annual Pentecost The article requested, is as' follows God has not bound himself to any particular place, nor- to any specific day or, season of the .year, when and where he.will bestow regenerat ing grace ; and especially he has not named the place nor the time , When -he may not be sought advantageously hy , the. serrOwin" g sinner/ The maly limitation is; that :he will not' hear those who haveeinned away their day of grace. Previously -to that sad hour, men; at any time, and =in any place, and in any need, may call upon the 'alma of the Lord and be saved. Offering the prayer of faith, they shall certainly be accefited. And always the Word of truth in Chriit Jeans; when ever and wherever duly preached, shall have its converting and ,sanctifying influence. Never is the Gospel proclaimed, we believe, by 'Christ's herald, but that there is a soul in the audience which is to be saved, and, which 'receives benefit from the message. This is a delightful thought, cheering intensely to the devoted minister. . But still is there not a time slightly intimated Scripture, the thought strengthened by the an alogy.of God's works in the natural world; and the season indicated to the Church by successive outpourings of God's Spirit, which may be dC nominated the. reviving time---the harvest time; coming in its appointed order ? If there is, the ,ohurch should, know it, and should improvelt ; and thus be saved by the sad, desiiairing cry, 4 g The harvest is passed and the Bummer is ended, and my people are not saved." The subject is worthy an , rinquiry. 'Even if nothing can be de termined with certainty, we may`yet be led to the contemplation of truths which will strengthen our faith and stimulate to activity. In the Old Testament Church.there were special seasons appointed for protracted religions ser vices. these, God would meet his people and bless them; as ,at the. Passover, Pentecost, and Feast.of Tabernacles. -God speaks also of a time when ke,may be found, ott season when h4e is near, an (leaped time, a day of salvation. That there were, of old, , annual seasons for the enjoying of the 'Divine, favor in religions services, is manifest; and _that there is &season of grace, which, if not animal, occurs yet once in the period of human !life, is equally clear: And the thought that there may be to the Church, an annual season of amore -than ordiusay bestowment of reviving grace, is not at 'all inconsistent with God's ways of good . ness. God works much by seasons. So it haspleased him. He has appointed a seed time and a harvest.: 'a:Summer and a Wmter. It is not always the one; nor alWays the other. Men sow, and after- wards they reap. They saw again, and patiently await the appointed time for gathering. There is the springing of the earth's verdure, the harvest of. grain, the Autumnal' fruits. Men do not plant and'itither, nor `I3OW and reap at the liami seasons.' - And the recurrence of the season for harvest and ingathering do . es not; of itself, secure the fruits. There must have been a previous sowing `arid.'planim r g. .Human industry, and skill, and tinst have precede& Without these, the harvest thne, though divinely ordained, would. come and depart 'unblest. There would, still bo empty barns and a starving people. , Thus it is in the kingdom of itater. , Kow, does not, all this tough,. by analogy, that theremay be aim's:Twit seasonin the Kingdom of Grace ? It is the same God who ordains and rules' in - each kingdom And tiothing is more common` in his teachings, and especially in CO instructions given by Christ, thento illustrate thu one kingdom by the oiher. We have the husbandman, the vine -dresser, Of sower, the garden, the ,tields,i the vineyard, tin fig-tree, the, harvest, „the -barn, the garner, the early and, the latter rally:and the fruit in its sem son. There is the souring, and the blade, and thi - ear, and the full corifin the earo .There are till rains,: and ;the winds,, and 'the; hsat, and thl drought. There, is evertvicissitude adapted V. the 'growth, the', ripening, and the ingathering key we not then bejustifunl in carrying out thi analegy,,,und saying, modestly, but in hope, then. may be an annual harvest in the. Divine economy. for gathering in, the fruits of the spiritual laber er's husbandry, in kingdom of grace—a seasos, for the recurrence of which we'shall look in tir , strong exercise of faith and expectation ; fe Which we shall prepare by a timely sowing of flu. seed, and a diligent attendance.upon its culture; and when'We shall he prepared, and shall actually 'set to werk,logather` in the harvest? Triily, we do not signet a harvest time ire shall not pre pare for it and if ire prepare not for it, then. will be nothing to gather. But if we sow we shall reap, and reap :in accordance with our sowing; good fruit and bountifidly Surely, to expect a'tiine, a favored time, a idf tune for her Lord to visit his •Zion in his love, would be a great stimulant to, her. Berrante, t, make the due' preparation. They would strive t have all things ready.' She would awake and put pik her beantifil garments._ • 'To have a wise divie. ion of time and rightly apportioned •labor, -is' hro mensely important to the husbandman, the vine• dresier, and 'the steward.: Thus we'may reason , for the, importance of a du; arrangers** ay.- appropriation of time_and employment with thy ministers ofeChrist. They are rightly to divide the *Ord; and dispense,portions in due sensor •its • Now, islikere,anything in the history of God's dispensations of mercy to his Church-Lanythis.g in the - history of revivals, which indicates a seass3 of the year when the spiritual husbandman, visa has eaYttiand - planted, and cultivate& well, an!! Welched andluardedkwith diligence and i wisclote map niPeotto feaP and gather in his harvest ? is thetWinter, an& especially the former part of the Winter, suoh'a,' Season? Is it the time for revs • viler 'One own pititOral exPerlenoe would indi oate it as Moth a .favorabliiand a favored season. And oar ',Observation corresponds with our 'expert ' ence. ilzi searching' all :`our reminiscences, the idea is vividly before usi that' the early part a Winter has been the season of the year in 'which., -in nearly If in6t quite all instance's,' we have el.* joyed, orwitnessed, tefieifiei time. • - • And, ; in tie ordearbigilof Proiiilenoe, there IA reason in this. Man id's° eisistit(ctiortbst he own attend' earnestly to tlingst a tune. Anil bola tiecifoinistititied irlad THE PRESBYTERIAN BALNNER AND ADVOCATE a revival is an event which, to enjoy and carry on, absorbs his whole soul. Hence it cannot, in its deep poweri continue very long. Neither man's nature in its feebleness, nor his other wants in their imperiousness, could endure it. We may look for a revival, -then, when a people enjoy comparative freedom from other pressing claims ; and that time is the season which wehave indicated. It is the season of leisure. In the Spring and through the Summer, and in the early Autumn, husbandry, and trade, and -business in its various forms, and sometimes politics super added, demand men's time and anxious care. Soaroely canfthey'find.leisliie to attend to their' daily devotions and their Sabbath•day worship, sufficient to keep alive, and-in a Strengthening state, the plants of grace which had previously taken deep root. But early Winter is the season of comparative rest. God has so ordered it in his Wine dispensations; and he says to his Church, . Now is the accepted time ; call upon l ac, for I am near; and oft and untiringly as he may have re iterated that cry, in their busy days that are past, yet now he says ''emphatically, .1 am near. I may be found. Seek me now. ; Suppose, then, that pastors and churches shall regard this particular season of the year, as their favored time of ingathering ; and shall adapttheir labors thereto—their preachinge, visitations, cat eohisings, personal addresses.to the young, their business, their' leisure, all their arrangements. Have a Pentecost, and expect a Pentecostal out pouring. Are there not intimations in God's Word; . and indications In man's nature, wants, 'and circumstances; and facts in the history of God's gracious bestowments of reviving grace, which would justify .suoh an arrangement and such expectations ? And would it not be wise in ministers, elders, and people, to cherish'the hope ? We can see nothing wrong in the thought we are laboring to present. It would not be &limit ing of the Holy' One of Israel.. He would be regarded still as ready, at all times, to hear the suppliant's cry, and, able to save. There would be no encouragement to procrastinate. Every motive, from the value of ,the soul; the precious. nein of religion, the danger of delay, the freeness of the promises, the uncertainty of life, the sud denness of an unexpected death, and the certainty and awfulness of judgment, could be stillovith unabated force, biought to bear upon the sinner. And while we can see nothing wrong, there are evidently great advantages connected with the suggestion we make. • It corresponds with the analogy of God's working in the kingdom of no tnre ; it accords with .Scriptural illustrations; it is adapted to human - capabilities and the varied duties of life; it would be a rational dividing of time, that the spiritual workman might attend to each of his duties, or parts of labor, in season,- instructing and establishing the young convert, nurturing the advancing Christian, defending the , outposts of Zion, warning the persevering sinner, presenting the invitations of the Gospel, and dwelling on the evidences of regeneration. God works by system. Look abroad, and be hold it.' Examine minutely, and admire it. Wise men work by system. Scrutinize the order of their plans, and mark •their success. Pastors should have system in their , labors, and what we suggest would lead to it. /day we not then ask for the subject a serious thought? We can readily anticipate an objection. We have alluded to it. Men will say, why, the Win-, ter has come and gone all our lives, and we have seen on special revivals. True, it, may be so ; and it would be just so with the harvest time of Summer, if