Holy Ghost," so as to be "filled with the Spirit," and she will find herself "endued with Power from on high," needing no longer to "tarry in Jerusalem," but fully girded for the world's speedy conquest.

The great Evil to be overcome is Sin. What but Holiness is its proper antagonist? The persons to be benefitted are sinners. Who but holy men can essentially benefit them? The character of the agency must be adapted to the nature of the object to be accomplished. That object-the recovery of lost sinners to holiness and heavenis pre-eminently spiritual, and he who would most efficiently promote it must himself be "spiritually-minded.” How feeble were the primitive Christians before the day of Pentecost; how timid, inconstant, ineffective! After the Divine Influence came upon them, and such wonderful changes were wrought in their personal piety, how bold were they, how resolute, how patient, how persevering! How extraordinary was their power of endurance, their power of overcoming obstacles, their power of developing and enforcing Divine truth, their power of argument, their power of appeal! "Strengthened with might in the inner man," they went forth with the weapons which are "mighty through God," assaulting the strongest holds of sin, grappling with Satan's veteran phalanxes, and winning for their Prince a thousand bloodless victories. How soon and how surely did the nations feel and confess the power of these evangelical giants. Aiming at a holy end, influenced by holy motives, governed by a holy rule; divinely illuminated, supported, protected, they said what no others could say, they did what no others could do, they endured what no others could endure; and, passing from province to province, we hear them ever and anon exclaiming, "Thanks be unto God who ALWAYS causeth

us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us IN EVERY PLACE."

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Let the Christians of our day be such in Moral Character as were the primitive disciples, and then may they be such in Moral Power. Then will they be so spiritual as to be fitted to the achievement of spiritual conquests. Then will they have that sympathy with their object which will make them feel that they are identified with it, and will lead them to consecrate to its accomplishment their undivided and untiring energies. Sympathy is Power. Then will they be the subjects of a faith under the influence of which they shall "out of weakness be made strong," so as to be able to accomplish what would otherwise be impracticable. "All things," said Jesus, are possible to him that believeth." Faith is Power. Then too will they be deeply imbued with that affectionate spirit which shall render their manner winning, and their spirit melting. Their words, bathed in their hearts' sensibility, shall soften whatever they touch, and souls, hard and cold as the Alpine glacier, shall dissolve under their influence like wax in the rays of the summer sun. Love is Power. And then, above all, will they be better qualified than now for the work of intercession. Our heavenly Advocate is a prevailing Pleader because he is "Jesus Christ THE RIGHTEOUS," for-there, as elsewhere, Holiness is Power. Jacob had "power with God and prevailed;" and so had Moses, and Elijah, and Isaiah, and Daniel, as well as the Apostles, and the legitimate conclusion from facts as well as testimony is, that "The effectual fervent prayer of the RIGHTEOUS MAN availeth much.” Prayer is Power; and they who get the nearest to the throne, and enjoy with him that sitteth thereon the most familiar and endeared communion, have the most of that mysterious influence; for to such God has in his condescension

hands command ye

said, "Concerning the work of my me." And Jesus has said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Prayer is Power.

Every element of character that enters into the composition of Holiness is an element of Moral Power, and just in proportion as these elements are developed and strengthened will be the Increase of Moral Power. To this point, then, let the Church, in all her departments, give immediate and earnest attention. Let her welcome the conviction, and let the conviction be practical, that her ability to do good is in proportion, not to her numbers, not to her wealth, not to her intelligence, but to her Holiness; and that until she has a large increase of Holiness in both her ministry and her membership, she has no reason to expect the universal triumph of the cause of truth and righteousness.

B. S.

INCREASE OF MORAL POWER.

CHAPTER I.

SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL IN ITS END, AND IN ITS MEASURES OF REFORM.

THERE is no desire in the human heart which so much assimilates to God, as that of increasing the happiness by improving the virtue of mankind. Unlike those animal sympathies possessed in common by the good and the bad, which impel to the relief of suffering without regard to amending the character of the sufferer, this desire unites with a benevolent interest in the diffusion of happiness, the severe justice of denying the right of it to any, except those who are willing to conform themselves to the requisitions of holiness and truth. Hence, it is an emanation of heaven itself, where love, instead of being a blind impulse, is so blended with equity and law, as to constitute that quality which is singled out